Embracing the future

Stuart Burn likes challenges – in fact he thrives on them. Having taken over as vice chair of FMO, the UK’s optical trade association, in September, he will succeed Andy Yorke as chairman in December and is expected to deliver the biggest and best Optrafair exhibition in April 2020. No pressure then.

Having left school with modest qualifications in 1986, Burn cut his teeth providing asset finance to the medical professions at Braemar Finance. In 2005 he decided to go it alone by setting up Performance Finance, which has grown steadily to become a multi-million pound business providing funding for medical and paper professions. Burn has progressively broadened his customer base which now includes; opticians, dentists, vets, accountants and solicitors.