It is with great sadness that we have to report the news that Simon Gray, founder of Credo Asset Finance passed away on Sunday afternoon 27th September 2020 after a short battle with cancer.
Simon started Credo Asset Finance as a ‘bedroom broker’ in 2005 after being in the finance industry for the previous 25 years. He named the company Credo after its Latin name ‘Trust & Belief’ with a vision to help local businesses secure funding as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
It was not long before he forged many relationships with these businesses and by 2010 with the help of investors, created Credo Capital Finance Ltd. This is an own book funding facility to offer finance to those that needed more than a simple automated decision to be approved.
He was a mentor for young people, employing many at Credo and for several years offering 0% interest free business loans and advice to those young people wanting to start a local business. Credo Asset Finance went from strength to strength under his leadership, growing to 28 staff members and lending in the region of £50 Million a year. Star Asset Finance acquired Credo in June 2017.
Simon loved spending time with his family, his wife Tracy and three children, Will, Anna & Alex, and loved his holidays. He sang in local choirs, loved a game of golf, enthusiast for motorsport and enjoyed long walks.
He was an extraordinarily generous man, always wanting to help those in need and astonishingly raised over £100,000 for charity in the last few years. This included climbing Kilimanjaro in 2016 and most recently the creation of the Canaryball Rally, which involved 20 cars travelling through 8 countries in Europe in 5 days in association with the Community Sports Foundation raising funds for their Build The Nest project in Horsford, Norwich.
He will be truly missed by so many, not least his Credo family. It is even sadder that Simon will not see his son Will marry Bara who works at Credo which was supposed to take place in June this year.
Ian Tims MD said “Simon was a legend in Asset Finance. I will ensure his legacy continues, building the business so that Credo carries on even stronger and brighter for the future.”
All our thoughts are with Tracy and the family at this incredibly difficult time.
Simon Gray 1963 – 2020