Our Board

Catherine Lewis La Torre is CEO of the Government-owned British Business Bank and took up the role on 1 September 2020. Catherine previously held the position of CEO of the Bank’s two commercial subsidiaries, British Patient Capital and British Business Investments.

Catherine Lewis La Torre has built a career in venture capital and private equity fund management. She joined the British Business Bank in 2016 from Cardano Risk Management, where she was Head of Private Equity, responsible for managing a global portfolio of private capital fund investments with over £1bn of commitments. Prior to this she was a Partner with secondaries specialist, Fondinvest Capital, in Paris having previously been one of the founding partners of fund-of-funds manager, Proventure which focused on venture and growth capital investing in Europe.

Judith is CEO of the British Business Bank’s two commercial subsidiaries, British Business Investments and British Patient Capital, and took up the role on 1 September 2020. Judith previously held the position of Managing Director of the Bank’s UK Network, a team that is physically located within each of the English regions and the three Devolved Nations.

Judith Hartley built a career in corporate banking with Barclays and Bank of Scotland before becoming involved in the delivery of publicly funded access to finance products. Prior to her current role, Judith was previously the British Business Bank’s Managing Director, Lending Solutions, where she was responsible for the delivery of a number of the Bank’s debt-based products, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, Help to Grow and Start Up Loans. Judith joined the Bank from Capital for Enterprise where she was Managing Director, Debt Markets.

Caroline became a Non-executive Director in February 2022. Caroline has 30 years’ experience in financial services and capital markets ranging from equity research to investment banking and asset allocation.

Caroline is Managing Partner at CounselRock Partners, a specialist hedge fund research and alternative investment consultancy. Her prior roles include MD Global Business Development at CAIA, Director European Research at Commerzbank in London and Frankfurt and Executive Director at Goldman Sachs International.

She is currently a Non-Executive director of healthcare management consultancy ETL, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and social impact investment platform Ethex as well as and a trustee of the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity and African Conservation Foundation (ACF). She is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a member of the CFA Institute.

Sue became a Non-executive Director in February 2022. Sue is a Chartered Banker and has enjoyed an extensive career in financial services working in Retail, Corporate and SME banking. Her previous roles include Managing Director of Santander Business in Santander UK, and Head of SME Strategy for Virgin Money.

She has been involved in transformational fintech projects and alliance partnerships in the UK and Europe and the successful delivery of new operating models, systems, and culture. She has been actively involved in the diversity agenda for many years.

Sue is a Non-executive Director of The Melton Building Society, Chair of Nexa Finance Ltd and Board Advisor at Physio Medics Ltd. She is also Chair of the International Advisory Board of Queen’s Management School at Queens University, Belfast, and a member of University of Sheffield Business School Advisory Board.