Tim Sawyer CBE

Biography

Tim has enjoyed over 30 years’ working in financial services. In 1999, Tim helped to create the online bank, Cahoot, (the internet division of Santander UK plc), becoming Managing Director in 2003. He has also held roles running a network of banks for the Sampoerna conglomerate and as Chief Operating Officer for One Savings Bank.

Most recently, he was CEO of The Start Up Loans Company. It was here that he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to small business and entrepreneurs in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Tim joined Innovate UK in 2017 as Chief Investment Officer. This role sees him head up the newly-formed innovation lending directorate, with responsibility for the planned innovation loans programme.

In addition, Tim chairs Folk2Folk, a West Country-based peer-to-peer lending company.