Roland Emmans
Head of UK Technology Sector & Growth Lending
Roland is a career banker, but not of the traditional mould. He is a big fan of psychology, and how human beings interact with each other and technology. Roland spends a lot of time cutting through ‘Buzz words’ of what tech change really means to us here and now, and in the medium term.
Roland heads up HSBC UK’s Technology Sector & Growth Lending, helping growing businesses from start-ups to large quoted multinationals. He is a 25 yrs.+ career banker having worked in a wide range of roles and geographies, for the last 12 years he has focussed purely on the tech sector. Roland jokes that he spends much of his time translating what tech firms do into a language banks can understand.
Roland is aware he is very lucky to get to meet more than 200 innovative tech firms per year, getting to hear the inside story, giving him a big network and broad perspective on the sector. Whatever else is happening, one thing stays the same – the rapidly growing presence of tech in every aspect of modern life. The embrace of digital transformation across every sector is spurring enormous growth in Technology firms, which are starting up, scaling up and expanding at pace.
Email: growth.lending@hsbc.com
Anna O’Brien
Director, UK Technology Sector & Growth Lending
Anna is a Director in HSBC UK’s Tech sector and Growth Lending team. Anna has the pleasure of meeting c150 tech firms per year, hearing first-hand the opportunities and challenges they are facing and how HSBC may be able to help. She is very excited to have been part of the creation of Growth Lending, helping to provide committed debt to high growth, loss-making tech firms – a first for HSBC UK. Anna is passionate about supporting D&I initiatives within the tech sector, and gets involved in supporting D&I in the sector through HSBC’s sponsorship programmes, dialogue with our customers and events.
Previously, Anna has worked in Structured Finance and Debt Capital Markets, helping businesses achieve their personal and business ambitions whether this is through M&A, accessing debt or equity capital markets or supporting day to day growth needs.
Outside of work, Anna enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and creative hobbies such as pottery.
Email: growth.lending@hsbc.com
Danielle Hook
Director, UK Technology Sector & Growth Lending
Danielle thrives on being immersed in the ever changing, fast paced technology ecosystem. She feels privileged to have the opportunity every day to connect with a huge variety of tech businesses from start-ups through to listed international businesses. She loves gaining great insight into the opportunities and challenges that arise for tech business with big ambitions, whilst connecting with some of the brightest innovators, who are increasingly shaping the world and the way we do business.
Before moving into the Technology & Growth Lending team, Danielle has worked in the banking sector for the past 10 years in leveraged finance supporting private equity funds and the businesses they invest in. Prior to that she spent 10 years in the professional services sector at Deloitte, mostly in Corporate Finance advising businesses and investors on M&A and fund raising. She is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Banker.
Away from the office Danielle is a fitness fan with a passion for Pilates and any sports on snow or water which she enjoys with her two teenage children
Email: growth.lending@hsbc.com
