For most people, corporate finance is measured in funds raised and deal completions. Spend a little time with Carl Swansbury, however, and it quickly becomes clear that, while he relishes the challenge of delivering complex M&A transactions, it's the people behind them that provide the real motivation.
That philosophy has shaped RG Corporate Finance over the past 15 years. As the business celebrates another record year and marks its anniversary with a 22-strong team advising clients across the UK and internationally, Swansbury reflects not just on what has been built, but why it was built.
Fifteen years ago, when Carl joined Ryecroft Glenton (RG) to establish its corporate finance business, he wasn’t simply taking on a new role. His ambition was to build a specialist advisory business that could compete nationally while remaining firmly rooted in the North East, combining technical expertise with a proactive, entrepreneurial approach.
“When I joined RG, I could have set up independently,” he says. “But I believed entrepreneurs deserved more than isolated advice. As businesses grow, they need specialists around them, whether that’s tax, accounting, corporate finance, wealth management or strategic advice. Bringing those disciplines together means clients receive joined-up advice throughout their journey.”
Rather than viewing corporate finance simply as buying and selling businesses, Carl sees it as helping entrepreneurs navigate every stage of growth.
“We want to work with ambitious business owners throughout the lifecycle of their business and beyond,” he explains. “Sometimes that’s helping clients raise funding, sometimes supporting an acquisition and sometimes preparing a business for sale. Every business is different, but our objective is always the same: helping owners create more value and giving them more options for the future.”
That long-term approach has shaped both RG Corporate Finance and the wider firm.
While the North East remains RG’s home, the business has expanded nationally, opening offices in York and London and advising on increasingly complex cross-border transactions.
“Business today is national and international. Around half of the businesses we work with involve overseas buyers or investors. Our job is to make sure our clients can access the right opportunities wherever they are.”
Carl is equally passionate about bringing investment into the region as he is about taking North East expertise to the rest of the UK.
“We’ve always believed the North East has exceptional businesses, inspiring entrepreneurs and highly experienced advisers. One of the things I’m proudest of is helping bring investment into the region and demonstrating that nationally recognised corporate finance advice doesn’t have to come from London.”
That philosophy extends beyond transactions.
Through industry events, entrepreneur networks and his Confessions of an Entrepreneur podcast, Carl has become a passionate advocate for sharing experience and supporting business leaders.
“I’ve always believed you can’t advise someone until you’ve educated and inspired them first. That’s why we create opportunities for entrepreneurs to hear real experiences from people who’ve built businesses before them. If those conversations help someone make a better decision, that’s valuable in itself.”
The same collaborative approach extends to the team he has built.
Over the past 15 years, RG Corporate Finance has grown consistently, with many team members progressing through the business while others have joined to strengthen specialist capabilities.
“We’ve built a genuinely collaborative team. People learn by working on live transactions across our core sectors, and they progress based on what they deliver. That’s created an environment where talented people build rewarding careers while clients benefit from the depth of experience across the firm.”
As the business enters its next chapter, Carl’s ambitions remain focused on sustainable growth.
“Our objective isn’t simply to do more deals. It’s to continue attracting great people, supporting ambitious entrepreneurs and building long-term relationships with our clients across the UK.”
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 15 years, but we’ve never stood still. There are always entrepreneurs to support, businesses to help scale and opportunities to create. That’s what continues to motivate us every day.”
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