Successful exporting, the Credit Insurance way

An experienced team here to support you at every step.

Avenue is an independent insurance broker specialising in the market placement of UK and international Credit Insurance and Surety Bonds. We have specialisms across all sectors and work with companies of all different sizes from SMEs to multi-nationals. With us, you get the best of both worlds. An independent business with the autonomy to work with every insurance provider in the UK market. And a business that comes with the full financial backing of the Tavistock Group, a global investment corporation founded over 40 years ago by Joe Lewis.

Our understanding, connections, and expertise ensure you get the maximum benefits from your policy.

Meet the team

Josh Levy

Chairman

Josh is an Investment Director with responsibilities in portfolio management

and investment strategy in the Tavistock Group, a global investment organisation, and Chief Executive of Ultimate Finance Group – a Tavistock portfolio company that provides funding to SME businesses across the UK. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Mitchells & Butlers plc, a FTSE 250 group that is the UK’s largest owner of managed pubs and restaurants. Prior to joining Tavistock, Josh worked in the Investment Banking division of Investec Bank plc specialising in UK M&A and ECM transactions across a range of sectors.

Shaun Purrington

Managing Director

Working as a trusted partner, Shaun has helped some of the UK’s largest and

well-known companies extract exceptional value from the credit insurance markets. An experienced credit management professional, he has held senior executive level positions with international credit insurance companies, brokers and credit management service providers. Shaun was previously Chairman of the ABI’s Trade Credit Committee and currently sits on the Advisory Council of the International Credit and Trade Finance Association – ICTF

Neil McMyn

Finance Director

Neil is Chief Financial Officer of Tavistock Group’s European Investment Portfolio

and of Ultimate Finance Group – a Tavistock investment that provides funding to SME businesses in the UK. A chartered accountant, Neil previously spent nine years with Arthur Andersen Corporate Finance in Edinburgh and six years in advisory and funds management roles at Westpac Institutional Bank in Sydney. Neil has considerable experience of financial services and of listed companies including being non-Executive Director of DCD Media plc since September 2012.

Polly Russell-Stower

Legal & Compliance Manager

Polly is the Legal and Compliance Officer for Avenue and Group General

Counsel for Ultimate Finance Group. She is a qualified solicitor and has considerable experience of working in the regulated financial services sector with both lenders and insurers.

Chris Brown

Head of Client Services

Located in our Manchester service centre, Chris provides a fully comprehensive service

to his diverse portfolio of clients which also involves regular interaction with every major UK credit insurer. His broad and extensive experience enables him to provide valuable day to day support to other members of the team and their own portfolios from time to time. Chris is another member of the team with both insurance and broker side experience, having started his career with Euler Hermes and then moving to specialist independent credit insurance brokers.

Caroline Dixon

Senior Account Executive

Caroline joined Avenue in July 2019 and leads our customer service function,

supporting clients with the day to day running of their credit insurance policies, advice on policy compliance and negotiating renewal terms with the insurers. An experienced credit insurance professional with over 20 years of experience in account handling with a handful of independent brokers, Caroline is able to offer a truly exceptional service to clients of all sizes and operating in any trade sector.

Zoe Tancock

Senior Account Executive

Zoe joined Avenue in May 2023 having spent several years in sales and client

servicing with a independent specialist credit insurance broker where she enjoyed much success and build excellent relationships with key commercial and risk underwriting contacts at all of the insurers. Prior to broking, Zoe worked in account management roles with the two largest credit insurers in the world; Allianz and Atradius, which gave her an excellent grounding in the practical and technical aspects of credit insurance.

Zoe leads our development activities within Avenue, helping to tailor credit insurance programmes to the precise needs for both new and existing users. Once a new client is successful on boarded, Zoe retains the relationship and provides in-life servicing so as to ensure full continuity of client service throughout the journey and is currently managing a diverse portfolio as well as supporting Avenue’s growth.

Maureen Steinschauer

Account Executive

Maureen joined Avenue in May 2021 and in her role as Senior Commercial Assistant provides support

and guidance to our clients on a range of issues regarding their credit insurance policy, acting as an Account Executive for a portfolio of clients. Having spent many years working in the invoice finance sector, her knowledge is of great value to our many clients who use credit insurance as collateral for a working capital facility. This means she provides an important role in bringing the insurer, insured and financier closer together with the aim of improving a client’s cash-flow.

Lesley Bennett

Senior Account Executive

Lesley has been with Avenue since the beginning and manages the interactions

with insurers on a diverse portfolio of clients including setup, in-life servicing and claims. Prior to joining Avenue, Lesley held senior operations roles with Tokio Marine HCC and Allianz Trade and her career has provided her with a high level of exposure to the invoice finance market which complements perfectly her credit insurance knowledge, skills and experience.

Ben Carter

Credit Risk Analyst

Ben joined avenue in September 2022, having spent several years with BNP Paribas

where he developed his skills and passion for trade credit. Ben supports our clients on a number of levels including acting as the bridge between insured and insurer in the vitally important area of credit limits. He helps our clients understand the reasoning behind credit limit decisions, helping to appeal restricted decisions and provide some insights and guidance as to the merits of trading uninsured. Because credit limits are so vital to the effective and efficient part of the credit insurance market, Ben plays an important role for our clients – working closely with all insurers to help our clients trade with more certainty!

An experienced team here to support you at every step.

Our understanding, connections, and expertise ensure you get the maximum benefits from your policy.

Meet the team

Josh Levy

Shaun Purrington

Neil McMyn

Polly Russell-Stower

Chris Brown

Caroline Dixon

Zoe Tancock

Maureen Steinschauer

Lesley Bennett

Ben Carter

It costs nothing to appoint us. Get in touch to find out how Credit Insurance can protect and grow your business.