Meet the Team

Darren Willoughby is the Managing Director of 2XL. Since co-founding 2XL Commercial in 2007, he has continued to work with a wide variety of introducers across the North West and in 2010 established the East Midlands office, working with a multitude of professionally introduced clients as well as direct introductions.

Darren graduated in law before fighting off 12,000 candidates to join Lloyds TSB on their business and corporate graduate scheme. He then went onto become a Business Manager looking after a multitude of clients. Latterly he became the youngest Business Development Manager in the bank and a constant top 20 performer nationally. Since establishing 2XL Commercial Finance, Darren is very much hands on in the business and takes great pride in making deals happen and ensuring customers get the right funding solution at the best possible rate for his clients

Darren works with a number of introducers such as Accountants , IFAs and Pension fund Administrators  and has particular specialisms in Property Portfolio Refinance where in 2017 , he completed a £10.8 million portfolio refinance. 

Darren established 2xl Commercial to ensure that the best interests of the client were at the heart of everything.

Tim Bamber is one of the founding directors of 2XL Commercial Finance with a previous career spanning nearly thirty years in commercial banking. Whilst employed, he had senior roles including team management, business development, credit and relationship management.

He has extensive experience in structuring funding solutions and has worked with a cross section of clients and sectors. He still gets immense satisfaction in assisting clients by arranging the finance package most appropriate to their needs. He has a hands-on approach and his clients include large property investment clients who turn to him for assistance on a regular basis.

Steve joined 2xl Commercial in 2012 after 36 years with Lloyds Banking Group. During that time, he undertook a number of Commercial roles in the SME market including relationship management, and business development.

Steve has a wealth of experience in providing funding solutions for customers in all areas of commercial finance and has an in depth knowledge of the commercial funding market.

He is committed to providing the best possible service, ensuring customers are kept up to date with developments throughout the entire funding process.

Don’t be fooled by the white hair!  Steve has an energetic approach and gets great satisfaction from providing his clients with the right product at the right price in exactly the right way.

With over 12 years experience in marketing, both online and offline, Sarrah brings with her the knowledge, insight and experience in ensuring 2XL remains at the forefront of it’s industry.

Sarrah has worked across a number of industries, leading creative campaigns for household brands and local SME’s.

With a focus on relaunching the new brand identity, Sarrah is responsible for the content shared across all platforms and is committed to modernising and rejuvenating the image of commercial finance!

Victoria Ellison graduated from Loughborough University with a BA (Hons) in Modern European Studies then swapped languages for finances to become a financial planner. The first half of her career was spent advising clients, as well as managing and coaching other advisers, before she decided to focus solely on adviser development.

After a range of roles with national companies training their advisory staff and working closely with their respective compliance departments, in 2013, Victoria began working exclusively as a Compliance Consultant. Ever since, she has been instrumental in assisting brokers and lenders with FCA authorisation and their subsequent compliance needs.

Dave Clarke, married with 3 children and 5 grandchildren spent almost 40 years in commercial banking (Barclays, Bank of Scotland & Lloyds) and the last 30 years as a Relationship Manager and then BDM.

He then left in 09/2014 and has been a commercial finance broker since.  

Hobbies – Sport (more watching than playing these days – so primarily watching Southampton lose!); Theatre; Grandkids, music/concerts and (still) being a taxi service for his kids.

Claim to fame – Have one international football cap. Played for Guernsey against Jersey (Barclays sent me to Guernsey for 2 years which is where I met my wife who is actually a cockney) and I scored [although we still lost!].

With a long career in Commercial Banking, Max was the Head of Bank Training before returning to the “coal face” as an Area Director with the task of setting up one of 12 National Business Development Teams (for South Central England) for Lloyds Bank. He led the team of 8 Business Development Managers who were tasked with bringing in new SME business. The team was quickly established as the top performers in the country.

With his experience in dealing with introducers, predominantly brokers and accountants, Max started his own Commercial Brokerage in 2013. Since then he has helped over 600 clients raise approaching £100m.

An integral part of his business has been the strong working relationships formed with both clients and lenders. Max was delighted to be appointed a Funding Circle Business Champion, one of only three brokers in the South West. This was in recognition of proficiency in delivering a “best in class service” allowing clients speedier underwriting and response times and lower fees.

Max is responsible for 2XL’s South and West Office.

If you have experience working within the Commercial Banking sector and want to explore the opportunity of joining an award-winning brokerage firm with full compliance and a marketing structure behind you, then please do get in touch with us to discuss potential opportunities.