Crowd2Fund names fintech veteran as CEO

Crowd2Fund has named Toby Wootton as its new chief executive, as the UK-based peer-to-peer lending platform moves into the next phase of its growth.

Wootton has worked at a number of fintechs including Funding Circle, WorldFirst, and SimplyVAT.

He was global head of programmes at former P2P lender Funding Circle between 2018 and 2019 before leaving the firm to become chief operations officer at Acro Aircraft Seating. Before joining Crowd2Fund, Wootton was chief executive of fintech start-up LaPay.

“It’s an honour to join Crowd2Fund at such a transformative moment,” said Wootton.

“This platform has been a driving force behind countless business success stories, connecting them with investors who share their vision.

“My goal is to ensure more businesses can achieve their dreams with the support of our community.”

Wootton added that he plans to focus on adapting and improving the platform’s use of technology to make communications, connections and the user experience for lenders and borrowers as seamless as possible.

Since its launch in 2014, Crowd2Fund has facilitated more than £45m in funding for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the UK.

In 2023, the company’s founder Chris Hancock stepped down as chief executive as the P2P platform underwent a restructuring. Since then, the firm has secured new growth capital to fund a spate of new hires and upgrades.

Wootton’s appointment signals the next phase of the platform’s growth, the company said.

“As we celebrate a decade of championing UK entrepreneurs, we look to the future with anticipation to create impactful change for both businesses and investors at scale,” added Asoz Rashid, director at Crowd2Fund.

“Toby’s expertise and leadership will be pivotal as we enhance processes such as due diligence and stakeholder engagement as well as the continual focus on maintaining an edge with our technology.”