London, 19 October 2026 – Debrett’s has appointed Simon Sherliker as Head of Debt Advisory, alongside Senior Director Umito Choji, as the firm launches its dedicated Debt Advisory team to strengthen its corporate finance offering.
Simon joins from FRP Corporate Finance, where he was a Partner in the Debt Advisory team, having previously been a Director at Spectrum Corporate Finance. He brings more than 20 years’ experience across debt advisory, corporate finance and banking, including earlier roles at HSBC, Barclays and RBS.
Simon has an extensive track record advising private equity sponsors, corporates and management teams on leveraged buyouts, acquisition financing, refinancing and growth funding. He brings established relationships with a broad range of private equity investors, lenders and management teams and will work alongside Debrett’s M&A team to support clients across the UK mid-market.
Umito Choji joins as Senior Director, bringing over a decade of corporate finance experience, specialising in debt advisory since 2019. He has advised private equity investors and management teams on acquisition financing, refinancing and growth funding, with particular expertise in annual recurring revenue (ARR) financing for technology businesses, alongside broader sector experience across business services, industrials and manufacturing.
Simon Sherliker, Head of Debt Advisory at Debrett’s, said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Debrett’s. The team has already built an excellent reputation in the mid-market and this is a great opportunity to develop a dedicated debt advisory business that will complement our M&A services, ensuring we can fully deliver for our existing clients while building new relationships across the private equity and corporate markets.”
“Our focus will be on providing high-quality, commercially focused advice across the full range of debt funding solutions, helping clients secure the right financing for acquisitions, refinancing and growth.”
Clive Hatchard, Head of Advisory at Debrett’s, commented:
“Our clients are often making significant decisions about the future of their businesses, and having access to the right funding advice can be just as important as the transaction itself.
“Simon and Umito bring extensive experience and strong relationships across the lending market. Their appointments allow us to offer existing clients a more comprehensive service while building a dedicated Debt Advisory practice with its own client relationships and opportunities.”
About Debrett’s
Debrett’s is a professional services group specialising in Advisory, Wealth Management and Investments.
Debrett’s advisory team provides corporate finance, M&A and debt advisory services to entrepreneurs, management teams, corporates and investors. Combining deep sector expertise with an extensive network of relationships across the UK and internationally, the team provides senior-led advice throughout the transaction lifecycle.
