BFS Capital has appointed Brian Simmons as chief operating officer.

Simmons comes to BFS Capital with more than 15 years of experience scaling venture-backed companies across North America, Europe and Africa. Before joining BFS Capital he held senior leadership roles at several hospitality, automotive and financial services companies.

At BFS Capital, Simmons will oversee efforts to transform all lead-loan operational processes, focusing on both efficiency and effectiveness as the company transitions to a fully digital-enabled lending platform. He will also be responsible for international expansion plans and provide support for operations in the UK and Canada.

“BFS Capital is focused on giving our small business customers and partners the best possible financial services experience. Brian, who I have known for many years, brings strong leadership in digital transformation, extensive know-how in consumer credit products, and an entrepreneurial spirit to round out our executive team,” said Mark Ruddock, CEO, BFS Capital.

Simmons most recently served as co-founder and COO of Tursas Enterprises, a hospitality business whose assets include the International Axe Throwing Federation. Earlier, he was head of product at Wonga Digital Finance and held executive roles at Openlane, a B2B digital automotive marketplace that was acquired by Adesa in 2011.

BFS Capital’s leading small business financing platform leverages customized underwriting and proprietary algorithms to fund businesses in the U.S., Canada, and through its UK subsidiary, Boost Capital.