ThinCats Strengthens Commitment to Yorkshire and the North East with New Senior Director

WHY THIS MATTERS

Access to flexible financing remains one of the biggest challenges for mid-sized SMEs across the UK, particularly outside major financial centres. ThinCats’ appointment of Dan Houman as Senior Director, Origination reflects the growing importance of regional lending expertise in supporting business expansion. By strengthening its presence in Yorkshire and the North East, the firm aims to improve access to tailored funding solutions for owner-managed businesses, which play a critical role in driving regional economic growth.

ThinCats, the leading alternative finance provider to mid-sized SMEs in the UK, today announced the appointment of Dan Houman as Senior Director, Origination, focused on Owner Managed Businesses. Dan will be based in Yorkshire, further reinforcing ThinCats’ long-term commitment to backing regional businesses and supporting local economic growth.

In his new role, Dan will work with SMEs across Yorkshire and the North East to help them access the funding they need to grow. Working closely with the existing regional team, he will support businesses in securing bespoke, flexible funding solutions, drawing on the combined capabilities of both ThinCats and the wider Shawbrook Group.

His role will help strengthen collaboration across the Group’s lending platforms, giving regional businesses access to a wider range of funding solutions

Dan brings more than twenty years’ experience in corporate and leverage finance, having held senior roles at Virgin Money, OakNorth and Santander. His career has given him a strong commercial understanding of the challenges SMEs face and a practical approach to helping businesses secure the right funding. 

ThinCats was recently ranked as the top alternative finance debt provider for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), by volume, in the UK, according to Experian’s latest MarketIQ report. ThinCats provided £348m of funding to UK businesses in 2025, slightly ahead of its 2024 total. 

Mike Hackett, Chief Commercial Officer, ThinCats: “We’re delighted to welcome Dan to the team. He has deep experience of supporting SMEs across the region, and his commercial insight will be invaluable as we continue to help Yorkshire and the North East businesses achieve their growth ambitions, drawing on the capabilities of the wider Shawbrook Group.” 

Dan Houman, Senior Director, Origination, ThinCats: “I’m especially excited to be joining ThinCats at such a positive moment for Yorkshire and the North East. Mid‑sized SMEs are a driving force in the regional economy, and having the right funding in place can make a real difference.”

FF NEWS TAKE
Regional SMEs remain a vital engine of the UK economy, but many still face barriers when seeking growth capital.

Appointments like this underline how alternative lenders are expanding their regional presence to better support mid-market businesses. By combining local expertise with flexible funding solutions, firms such as ThinCats are positioning themselves as key partners for SMEs looking to scale, invest and navigate an increasingly competitive economic environment.