Meet Henry Linehan, Assistant Relationship Manager at VM Finance

As part of our ongoing campaign of introducing you to our roster of dedicated colleagues here at VM Finance, we’re spending a bit of time with Assistant Relationship Manager, Henry Linehan.

Henry is often at the heart of our client interactions, not just managing but enhancing these relationships. Let’s get to know him better.

Tell us about your career journey

My life in the financial industry began back in my home country of Australia, where I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce with a major in Banking and Finance. From there, I jumped straight into the banking world, spending time behind counters for local branches before progressing through different roles that dealt with personal loans, vehicles, credit cards and eventually mortgages.

This, along with a move to the UK, set the foundation for my move into SME real estate financing. This is where my passion lies.

What is your role at VM Finance?

Alongside my colleagues, John and Saheel, we form the relationship management team and our primary role is to bridge the gap between our clients and our credit decision team. A huge part of what we do is making sure each deal is presented perfectly and followed through to completion. More than that, our role is about providing support and peace of mind to our valued clients, ensuring everything runs smoothly and that they’re happy with the outcomes we strive to deliver for them.

What qualities do you think make a good relationship manager?

Thriving in this role is about much more than just financial knowledge. Of course, that’s important too, but we’re talking about building relationships here. Being a people person is essential. You have to be analytical, patient and understanding. With these qualities, you can help clients realise their goals and provide the perfect bridge between them and our internal team.

At the end of the day, we want the clients to be excited about what we can achieve together.

What makes VM Finance stand out from the crowd? What makes it special?

It comes as no surprise coming from a relationship manager but a huge part of what sets us apart is our relationship-centric approach. We’re not about simple transactions; we’re committed to building genuine relationships and that’s relatively rare in our industry.

What’s more, being part of a larger group (VM Group) offers unique advantages. Our president is actively involved with our projects and clients, adding a personal touch that’s often missing in larger corporations.

What motivates you in your work?

The dynamic nature of what we do, no day being the same, is one of the things that gets me up in the morning. Each day is filled with new people to meet and new deals to craft. This variety and the person-focused nature of it keep the job exciting for me.

Of course, when we deliver great results for our clients, that brings with it a great sense of pride and accomplishment. I get a lot of motivation from these successes.

What’s important to you outside of work? Any hobbies?

I love to travel and experience new cultures. Since moving to the UK, I’ve enjoyed the ability to hop over to different parts of Europe and see some amazing places. 

I’m also an enthusiastic snowboarder and a recent convert to running, though I’ll admit I’m looking forward to going back to lifting weights after my upcoming marathon!

Any highlights from your travels?

A nice long weekend in wintery Estonia and a work trip to sunny Jamaica have been the big highlights that stick out for me. Both opposite sides of the spectrum but great experiences for different reasons. That’s the great thing about travel: each new place brings its own unique set of experiences that enrich your life in unexpected ways.