Stewart Chesters has gained expertise at spotting the trends and pressure points of small business through a career committed to the small business sector, currently supporting businesses with their working capital needs.
Stewart calls himself a “builder,” growing organizations through his ability to identify and nurture talent, put in place sound processes and practices, and foster teamwork across function and multiple locations.
Stewart grew up in the seaside resort of Blackpool, England. After becoming an accountant he earned his MBA from Aston University, Birmingham. He started his career as an auditor for BDO Stoy Hayward before joining Litter Boss, a commercial landscaping and maintenance firm, in 1990. By the time he was 25, he was on the board and a part owner helping to run the company.
When it was sold, he turned to a career in local government at a time when the United Kingdom was privatizing many of its services. He is credited with helping to bring investment into Nottinghamshire, helping to create jobs in areas affected by the closures of coal mines. He also led a joint private- and government-owned career services company; among his many accomplishments was the introduction of a school voucher program that gave single parents access to pre-school childcare so they could return to work in areas of skill shortages. He rejoined the business sector awhen the agency was renationalized as part of a change in government policy.
In his recent career Stewart joined the U.K. head-quartered Bibby Financial Services in 2001 as Operations Director, managing a unit with $1.2 billion in annual volume. He is responsible for integrating the group’s largest acquisition, a division of a Top 10 U.K. bank, and for acquiring its first U.S. business unit. Coming to the U.S. in 2004 as COO he was named CEO of Bibby North America in 2007 a post held until 2010. Bibby provided working capital finance to small businesses, helping them grow and take advantage of business opportunities.
Stewart has now returned to his entrepreneurial roots and now is a managing member of the New Orleans headquartered Republic Business Credit, LLC supporting businesses to grow through accounts receivable financing and factoring.
On the personal side although retaining his limey accent he is a proud New Orleans resident and recent Chicagoan and has added the Bears and to his following of Burnley F.C. and Frenchmen Street to his regular haunts. He loves all thing Mac and spends way too much time on Facebook, LinkedIn, linkedin and tweeting (@schesters).
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