Trade credit insurer Atradius has appointed a new business development manager for its Northern Hub.
Chris Williamson joins the Atradius North team as the new SME business development manager, responsible for policy underwriting and developing relationships with the local broker network. He will work alongside colleagues Sally Nolan, Sarah Seddon and Chelcee Witkowski in the business development team, Senior Account Manager Nicola Hinchliff and Account Managers James Armitage and Lisa McMillan.
Chris, a Bath University biochemistry graduate, was introduced to Atradius in early 2018 from the prestigious Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme; a collaborative programme of work, training and academic study designed and delivered by leading financial organisations. The scheme aims to create a new talent pool of industry professionals with structured work placements alongside a customised MSc in Financial Services Management delivered by the University of South Wales. After a six-month placement with Atradius’ strategic account team, Chris was offered a long-term position and has now been appointed into the new business development manager role in Manchester.
A global leader in trade credit insurance, Atradius has a regional presence across the UK with its long-established Northern Hub serving brokers and businesses across the North of England and Scotland. Atradius’ Manchester based Northern Hub has grown from strength to strength in recent years following the appointment of four members of staff last summer and the strategic office move to The Chancery, Spring Gardens, in the heart of Manchester’s’ financial district in 2013.
Chris said: “Insurers and brokers have the same goal in aspiring to provide best-in-class service for customers who want to trade safely and successfully. Therefore, a strong broker-insurer relationship is essential in order for us, in partnership, to combine our intelligence, expertise and services to achieve greater successes for our customers. I have been given a warm welcome to the region by our broker community and am looking forward to building these relationships further in my new role.”
Stuart Ramsden, Head of Commercial for Atradius UK & Ireland, added: “The Financial Services Graduate Programme is an excellent scheme that enables businesses to identify and nurture future talent.
“Through his placement at Atradius, it was clear Chris would be a great asset to the team, he has a good understanding of the industry and of Atradius’ offering and is motivated to deliver the right solutions for our customers. It is good to see him further developing his career at Atradius in the North.
“As a trade credit insurer, Atradius protects businesses from the risks of trading domestically and overseas and has been doing so for a century. Non-payment is the single biggest risk to a business and, unfortunately, one that shows no sign of diminishing. Atradius can support a business to navigate the fog of uncertainty from the beginning of their trade journey. With a team of global experts, Atradius works with local businesses to analyse trade sectors, markets and countries as well as individual customers, evaluating risk and helping our customers to identify new opportunities. With increasing uncertainty in the business environment and wider economy, it is clear that trade credit insurance continues to be an essential tool for business.”
