With over four decades of experience in corporate and commercial banking, Martin brings a rare blend of front-line lending expertise and strategic insight to the firm’s fast-growing merger and acquisition advisory practice. His appointment signals Larking Gowen’s intent to further expand its footprint in the SME deal space alongside larger enterprise organisations, offering clients unrivalled access to funding intelligence and transaction structuring.
Martin’s career spans high-calibre roles at Barclays, Clydesdale, Santander and OakNorth Bank, where he led teams, built regional banking operations from the ground up and personally delivered over £50m in SME lending in his last 12 months alone and has provided an advisory role within the fintech sector. As well as traditional relationship banking, his track record includes funding complex transactions such as Management Buy Outs, Employee Ownership Trusts and Private Equity-backed acquisitions.
James Lay,corporate transactions and business advisory partnerat Larking Gowen said: “Martin is a proven dealmaker with deep roots in East Anglia and strong ties to the City of London”. James added: His ability to speak the language of lenders and navigate the evolving funding landscape is a game-changer for our clients.”
Martin joins the firm at a time when the corporate finance market is being reshaped by alternative lenders, debt funds and fintech disruptors. His appointment reinforces Larking Gowen’s commitment to helping business owners access the right capital at the right time, whether they’re scaling up, transitioning ownership, or preparing for a robust exit strategy.
Martin Williams said: “It’s a borrowers market right now, with lender appetites more fluid than ever with around 352 banks in the UK, which is more than I can remember in my 40 years within the industry”. He added: “In today’s climate, having someone who understands both the credit mindset and the commercial realities of a deal is critical. I’m excited to bring that perspective to Larking Gowen’s existing and new clients.”
The Corporate Transactions team at Larking Gowen has consistently ranked among the top financial advisors in the East of England, known for its hands-on approach, confidentiality and ability to deliver results. Martin’s arrival adds a new dimension to the firm’s advisory offering, particularly for clients seeking debt or equity funding.
Martin’s impact is already being felt with one of his recent projects involving a full re-banking and multi-million-pound refinancing for long-established Suffolk business H.G. Gladwell & Sons Ltd. The result – a more effective debt structure, significant annual savings and a smoother path for significant growth.
Simon Gladwell, CEO, H.G. Gladwell & Sons Ltd said: “Martin took the time to understand our business and quickly identified where our previous banking setup was holding us back. He ran a professional, competitive process that delivered exactly what we needed with better terms, better service and a structure aligned with our growth strategy. His ability to negotiate hard without burning bridges was invaluable.”
Larking Gowen is a major regional independent partnership and one of the UK’s top 50 accountancy firms. Founded in 1888, today Larking Gowen has a team of over 350 people across six offices throughout East Anglia. The firm has experience and expert knowledge across a wide range of sectors including agriculture, medical, charities, education, legal, construction and tourism, as well as specialist teams in corporate finance, personal and corporate tax, VAT, business strategy and support and business recovery.
