Muse hires Natwest’s Julie Ashmore as COO

Ashmore, who was previously CEO of NatWest Rapid Cash, will help Muse focus on its goal to hit £1.5bn of financing to SMEs by 2026.

Muse Finance, which provides working capital to businesses, has hired Julie Ashmore as its new chief operating officer.

At NatWest, Ashmore led a 50-strong team, which included the provision of its first digital working capital product.

She was Commercial Director at GrowthStreet, a fintech that shut its doors in 2020, prior to joining NatWest.

Ashmore has also held other senior leadership roles including at HSBC as Head of SME Lending and Bibby Financial Services as UK Operations Director.

“I’m thrilled to join the innovative team at Muse Finance at this exciting stage. I am looking forward to continuing to support small and medium-sized businesses in an industry I am so passionate about,” said Ashmore. 

“I truly believe that Ann and the team at Muse are those people who will make a huge difference in this industry and I am proud to be joining them,” she added.

Muse says it is planning to lend £1.5bn of SME financing in the next three years including through its business BNPL product.