Greater Manchester social enterprise The Growth Company (GC) has appointed Michael Hartig (pictured, left) as chair of GC Business Finance, the community-focused responsible lender and investor that exists to give small businesses and entrepreneurs the confidence to be successful in their growth journeys.
Hartig succeeds Yvonne Greeves who has successfully completed her term, and brings more than 30 years of experience leading and governing regulated businesses, with extensive expertise across financial services, risk, governance and strategic leadership.
He previously held senior leadership roles at Barclays Bank, including within its SME business across commercial and corporate banking. During his tenure, he was a key member of the Business Banking Risk Committee and chaired several internal governance forums.
Hartig also served at Newcastle Strategic Solutions Ltd, a subsidiary of Newcastle Building Society providing outsourced deposit management services to banks and building societies. His experience spans the governance and management of regulated entities, as well as joint ventures with fintech businesses and outsourced arrangements.
In addition to his professional experience, he is a trustee and member of the Finance and Risk Committee at Power2, a North West-based charity delivering services for young people nationally. Hartig also provides consultancy and advisory services through his own consultancy practice.
Hartig said: “GC Business Finance has an impressive track record of helping businesses access the finance they need to succeed while delivering meaningful social and economic impact. This is crucial in supporting local communities through job creation, while simultaneously boosting the UK-wide economy.
“That’s why I’m excited to be joining the organisation and look forward to working with fellow board members and colleagues to support the next chapter of growth and impact. I’ll be building on the exceptional work of Yvonne over the last 6.5 years and would like to thank her for her guidance and leadership during her tenure as chair.”
GC Business Finance is part of the Growth Company and one of the UK’s leading Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). The organisation provides alternative finance and investment to entrepreneurs and SMEs who may be underserved by traditional lenders, enabling businesses to start, scale and succeed, driving job creation across Greater Manchester and throughout the UK.
GC Business Finance has delivered over £1.03bn in funding to more than 94,000 businesses since 2002, and Hartig’s appointment follows Aaron Malins (right) joining as director of GC Business Finance in September 2025 as the organisation continues to strengthen its leadership team and governance. Malins has since taken up the role of GC’s CFO.
Malins added: “Michael brings a wealth of experience across financial services, governance and risk, all of which make him a strong addition to our board. His expertise and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our governance and build on the organisation’s strong foundations to support more businesses to access the finance they need to grow.”
