After a decade of steady growth, award-winning boutique finance consultancy CCBS Group has entered an exciting new chapter, powered by a management buyout and a refreshed leadership team with bold ambitions for the North East.
The MBO sees long-standing team member Graeme Harrison step up as Managing Director, taking the reins from founder Peter Cromarty, who now assumes the role of Non-Executive Chairman. While Peter’s influence and insight remain very much part of the business, it’s Graeme who will now lead the charge into the next decade.
Graeme joined CCBS five years ago to drive business development, bringing a sharp focus on client service and strategic growth. Now, as MD, he’s made it clear that his mission is about more than simply keeping the engine running – it’s about building a legacy. “We’ve built a resilient, client-focused business with a real passion for delivering results,” Graeme explains. “This next phase is about deepening that impact.”
CCBS was founded in 2014 with Peter at the helm and a laptop in a home office. Fast forward to today, and the team boasts over 125 years of collective lending experience, two North East offices (Newcastle and Teesside), and hundreds of successful client deals under their belt – including MBOs, acquisitions, and international expansions.
The firm’s growth has been fuelled by clarity of purpose and a refusal to accept ‘off-the-shelf’ funding solutions. Instead, CCBS thrives on delivering bespoke commercial finance packages – especially when traditional banking options fall short.
“What we do best,” says Graeme, “is cut through the complexity. Whether a business is scaling, restructuring, or facing a challenge, we help them see a path forward.”
For many, a management buyout signals a transition behind closed doors. But at CCBS, the impact is already rippling outwards.
“To the outside world, we might look very much the same,” Graeme admits. “But internally, we’ve got new energy, new ideas, and a shared vision for growth.”
This shared vision includes expanding CCBS’s presence across the North East and investing further in client relationships, technological efficiencies, and – critically – its people.
As part of the post-buyout evolution, CCBS has strengthened its senior team with two strategic appointments: Andrew Welton joins as Relationship Development Director, while Carly Dove steps into the newly created role of Director of Business Performance. Both bring impressive experience from outside the traditional finance world – adding fresh perspective as CCBS gears up for its next phase of growth.
“We’re not just growing for growth’s sake,” Graeme adds. “It’s about building a stronger business that delivers even more for the companies we support. That means bringing in the right people – experts who understand the pressures facing SMEs and can help them take their next steps, whether that’s expansion, acquisition, or securing the right funding at the right time.
“Andrew’s background in both marketing and financial services gives him a brilliant perspective on what clients really need. He brings energy, insight, and a real passion for helping businesses thrive, which strengthens our ability to connect them with the right funder quickly and confidently.
“At the same time, the buyout has given us space to think differently about how we work. Carly’s role is a great example of that – she’s helping us put the right structure in place behind the scenes so we can scale sustainably and continue delivering that high level of service our clients expect.”
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