PROFILE
TEES UP !
Name
: Robert Lankey Age : 54 Born : Peterborough Lives : Spalding
Organisation and job titles : GB Bank , chief commercial officer
When I was at school , I wanted to be … a train driver or long-distance lorry driver . As I was growing up , for reasons I can ’ t remember , I got fascinated with trains and big rigs . Only the fascination with steam trains continues – but I ’ m not a trainspotter !
The best business decision I ever made was … This is a tough one because my whole career has involved making business decisions , both large and small . I suppose it would have to be when one of the lending businesses I started lost its investment due to the investor going bust , putting at risk 19 jobs . I had to make a decision to go solo in the market and find another job , or , alternatively , do a deal with another bank whereby I would have to accept lower pay , but it would secure 18 other people ’ s jobs and livelihoods . I went for the latter and when I think of the positive impact this decision had on the lives of those other people , this was probably the best decision I made .
The worst business decision I ever made was … I ’ m someone who believes in always learning from my own mistakes , but probably the worst decision I ’ ve ever made was in 2017 when I had the chance to have a bank acquire a lending business I set up . This particular deal would have been the best decision , but I was swayed by the views of others to go for an alternative option , which my gut instinct told me would not be right – and it turned out not to be ! To go with the best option would have required some turmoil and some courage which , at the time , I didn ’ t feel I wanted to go through or had .
The best part of my job is … you get to influence and shape the entire customer journey when someone wants to borrow money from us . From that first touch point in the bank all the way through to how we manage customers while they ’ re with us and the ultimate repayment of their loan , I ’ m in touch with every aspect . I get the opportunity to influence the bank ’ s strategy at a high level but also , day-to-day , to deal with customers and their needs .
The biggest downside of my working life is … I ’ ve got to the stage of my career where I don ’ t really accept any job which has big downsides . If there were , I simply wouldn ’ t do the job .
If I could change one thing to help my organisation it would be … having an inexhaustible supply of capital . Starting new banks is very challenging and the capital you need to grow doesn ’ t always arrive when you need it to arrive . That means your growth in the first two or three years can be a bit accelerate , slow down , accelerate , slow down . This clearly has an impact on how you grow the business .
Four words to describe me are … tenacious , passionate , driven , conscientious .
My business mantra is … be clear on the future you want to create and get busy doing what you care about .
My greatest achievement is … In business , playing a key and leading role in the creation of the UK ’ s first challenger bank , where I was one of the four initial startup team members . This came on the back of the banking crisis in 2009 and it was an exciting time to be creating a new bank against all the challenges that were ahead . On a personal level , I would say becoming athletically fit at the age of 50 , when I wasn ’ t before , and also becoming a granddad before the age of 50 .
The advice I ’ d give to business start-ups is … the detail matters . While you will no doubt build a team around you , in the first few years be careful how much you let go of the reins . It ’ s the detail that makes the difference . I think also that tenacity to never give up . There will be many trials and obstacles , but you ’ ve got to believe in yourself and what you ’ re trying to create .
50 | Tees Business