Coface UK, the provider of credit solutions for business, has strengthened its new receivables finance direct sales force in the UK with the appointment of Gerry Donnelly as regional sales manager, Midlands and North West.

Donnelly will work closely with Russell Warner, recently appointed sales director for Coface UK, who is responsible for building the new direct sales force following the success of Coface UK’s receivables finance offering launched in September 2004.

The direct team will complement Coface UK’s existing work with brokers and help introduce receivables finance to a broader range of businesses, including those looking to expand their export capabilities.

Donnelly will be responsible for the development of the direct channel networks on behalf of Coface UK, with particular emphasis on the Midlands and North West. He has considerable experience in developing new clients within the corporate finance and financial restructuring arena, having worked for Eurofactor, Eurosales Finance and Bibby Group, where he was managing director of the Midlands division. He also spent two years working in the receivables finance industry in France.