Mr. Heald has spent most of his career in banking, not only specialising in markets, but also in general management positions overseeing all aspects of banking, including lending. He worked in London, New York and Tokyo and has an extensive knowledge of companies needs for financing and managing interest rate, liquidity and foreign exchange risks. During his career he worked for Brown Shipley, Chemical Bank and HSBC where he held senior positions including Head of Global Markets and Chief Executive Office at HSBC Japan. After leaving banking in 2003 he has served as an adviser, non-executive director and trustee of several charities as well as starting a number of successful family companies of his own. The SME market is of particular interest to him, specifically the challenges facing companies in their pursuit for growth, as he invests in venture and growth capital himself.