04-06-2025
Carlisle-based MD named 'Car Finance Business Leader of the Year'
The managing director of Borderway Finance in Carlisle has received an industry award.
Mike Deans has been named 'Car Finance Business Leader of the Year' at the Car Finance Awards at The Monastery in Manchester.
Mr Deans said: "It was a shock when they read my name out.
"It's one of the biggest events in the industry with some huge businesses in the room.
"This isn't just for me, it's recognition for everyone at Borderway."
Mr Deans was joined at the black-tie awards ceremony by Charlee Byers, sales support administrator, and Leah Farish, administration assistant.
He joined Borderway Finance in 1998 as a trainee account manager and worked his way up to sales and marketing director before becoming managing director in 2016.
He credited his team for the company's success.
Mr Deans said: "The business is all about the people.
"You have to have the right people.
"If they're not receptive and don't want to come on the journey with you, you'll fail.
"This is a great accolade for everyone at Borderway Finance."
According to a spokesperson for the company, "Borderway's sales have grown strongly, especially since the Covid pandemic.
"It provides exceptional customer service, achieving Feefo's top Platinum Service Award – based on verified customer reviews – for the last four years."
Mr Deans' leadership has helped the company earn a three-star rating from Best Companies for 'world-class' workplace engagement.
He has also chaired a car finance interest group for the Consumer Credit Trade Association and joined the association's board in November 2023.
In addition, he was invited to join Credit 500, a network of leading figures in the credit industry, and has served since 2023 as a director of People First, an advocacy charity based in Carlisle.
Mr Deans said: "Whatever you do in business, there's always a customer at the end of it who expects a level of service and expects to be looked after."
Outside of work, Mr Deans enjoys photography, videography, and spending time with his family and their Staffordshire bull terrier, Cooper.
If Mr Deans hadn't worked in car finance, he might have been a DJ – given he used to present the weekend breakfast show on CFM.
