Accelerated Payments is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Blackwell as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Sarah brings 18 years of deep operational expertise within the Invoice Finance sector, with a proven track record of enhancing efficiency, elevating service standards, and developing high performing teams.
A Proven Leader in Operational Excellence
Across nearly two decades in operations roles within a leading Invoice Finance organisation, Sarah Blackwell has built a reputation for driving meaningful, sustainable improvements. Her career has been defined by a focus on continuous improvement, process optimisation, and building motivated, customer centric teams.
Her ability to modernise operational structures, streamline workflows, and deliver consistent service excellence positions her perfectly to support Accelerated Payments at a pivotal time of expansion and innovation.
Strengthening Our Foundations for Scale
At Accelerated Payments, our mission is to make access to working capital simple, fast, and flexible for businesses trading domestically or internationally. As demand for our solutions continues to grow, ensuring operational excellence is essential to maintaining the quality and reliability our clients depend on.
Sarah’s appointment underscores our commitment to building a scalable, resilient operational framework that supports growth while continuing to deliver best in-class service. Her leadership will help strengthen our core processes, enhance collaboration across teams, and support the evolution of our product offering.
Leading Operational Strategy for the Next Phase of Growth
As COO, Sarah will work closely with the senior leadership team, including Mike Rose (Head of UK) and Ian Duffy (CEO), to help shape Accelerated Payments’ operational strategy for 2026 and beyond. Her focus on efficiency, team development, and service excellence will play a key role in supporting our clients and partners at every stage of their journey.
Speaking about her new role, Sarah Blackwell said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Accelerated Payments as COO. In my previous roles, I have focused highly on continuous improvement, streamlining processes and developing high performing and motivated teams. I’m excited to start my role at Accelerated Payments and help shape the future growth ambitions and assist our clients to the highest standards.”
Commenting on Sarah’s appointment, CEO Ian Duffy noted:
“I am pleased to welcome Sarah Blackwell to Accelerated Payments. Her extensive industry experience, operational strength, and passion for continuous improvement makes her a great addition to our leadership team. As we continue to scale and strengthen our offering in the UK and Irish markets, Sarah’s expertise will play a vital role in ensuring we deliver the highest level of service to our clients and partners. We’re excited for the impact she will undoubtedly make.”
