About Board Assist
Our Vision
To provide expert financial, leadership, operational and general business support to SME businesses for all aspects of running a successful business. We want to help businesses achieve their fullest potential. We strive to be a trusted partner, leveraging our expertise to navigate challenges, seize opportunities and create lasting value for our clients.
Our Values
We act with integrity
We will be a trusted partner
We keep things simple
We are relationship driven
We execute with excellence
We back your ambition
We specialise in taking local roots to national reach.
Meet the Team
Our Founder and Managing Director, Louise Santaana
Louise@boardassist.uk
Louise has extensive experience in the financial world leading large teams of people. She has worked in commercial banking, lending, private banking and corporate finance in senior roles. She has supported many businesses throughout her career to become more successful through strategic planning, coaching and strong leadership. Louise has a law degree, a post graduate in legal practice, CeMAP and is a qualified coach. Louise has also been CEO of an early stage business. She currently holds NED positions and is a chairman of a charity.
Director, Lee Jones
Lee@boardassist.uk
Lee is an accomplished director with 30+ years’ experience in UK Financial Services, spanning executive leadership, large-scale operations, digital transformation, customer experience and people development.
A proven turnaround and growth specialist, he has led multiple businesses to sustained high performance, strengthened conduct and risk outcomes, and delivered large-scale cultural transformation in highly regulated environments.
He is recognised for purpose-led leadership, deep expertise in customer vulnerability, and an ability to inspire leaders and frontline teams. Lee was previously an Area Director, Head of Contact Centres and, most recently, Director for the Lloyds and Bank of Scotland Mortgage business across the UK.
An experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair, Lee brings a strong network across the Welsh business ecosystem. At Board Assist, he offers a distinctive blend of regulatory insight, large-scale operational expertise and a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.
Lee also supports a charity focused on mental health and suicide prevention.
Why Board Assist?
Louise has significant expertise in finance, supporting businesses and leadership. She is passionate about supporting clients with their growth ambitions and will give you the tools to consistently deliver your business goals. She has enjoyed very senior positions in banking and finance. She is very family oriented and knows how important getting a good work life balance is to everyone.
At Board Assist, we understand that running and growing a business can be challenging; from navigating financial complexities to building the right leadership structures. That’s why we go beyond traditional consultancy. We become a trusted partner, working alongside you to simplify challenges, seize opportunities, and give you the tools to achieve your ambitions with confidence.
What sets us apart is our blend of deep financial expertise, real leadership experience, and a genuine passion for helping businesses thrive. We know that no two businesses are the same, so we tailor our support to fit your goals, ensuring practical solutions that deliver real results.
With Board Assist, you don’t just gain advice, you gain a relationship. We pride ourselves on acting with integrity, keeping things simple, and empowering you to reach your fullest potential while maintaining the balance that matters in both business and life.
Collaborators
Greg Turnbull, Managing Director of Langford Turnbull, Chartered Independent Financial Adviser.
Greg provides impartial, independent financial advice to individuals like yourself, to owner-managed businesses and to company directors. His friendly and expert advice can help simplify and make sense of the complex field of financial planning. It may be inheritance tax, pensions, tax efficient investment strategies, planning for retirement or selling a business. He helps clients make the best decisions about their financial affairs and explains options and strategies they may not have considered.
Leigh Khan Hussain, CEO of Inspired Business Media
Leigh Hussain is a high-impact entrepreneur with over a decade of experience building and scaling ventures across 12 industries: Facilities Management, Corporate Real Estate, Marketing, IT, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, and Property. As Co-Founder and CEO of Inspired Business Media, Leigh leads an award-winning global platform for executive engagement, connecting C-suite leaders from Fortune 500, FTSE 250, and leading enterprise organisations across EMEA and North America. Leigh's background in marketing strategy and innovation defines his approach. He is trusted by senior executives worldwide for his insight, commercial clarity, and ability to anticipate change. Through Inspired's advisory boards, private roundtables, and a close executive network, Leigh maintains a constant ear to the ground, staying ahead of technology trends and business transformation.
Red Honey Marketing
Red Honey is a creative digital agency that helps brands grow with stylish and results-driven strategies. Specialising in social media management, content creation, branding, and digital campaigns, the agency combines creativity with data-driven insights to deliver measurable impact. With a minimalist yet vibrant approach, Red Honey Marketing on clarity, professionalism, and personality, ensuring every campaign reflects the brand’s identity while engaging its audience. From building online presence to driving sales and strengthening brand awareness, the agency provides tailored solutions that make marketing simple, fresh, and effective.
Gareth Jenkins, Founder of Charis AI, AI Transformation Consultant.
Gareth helps ambitious SMEs embed AI where it moves the numbers: margin, capacity, and revenue per head. His clients are owner-managed businesses and directors who know their industry is changing but want a practical route to making AI actually deliver. Before founding Charis AI, he spent thirty-five years in operational leadership, including COO and Managing Director roles at Unipart, WRc, and businesses in the RSK Group, turning around and scaling engineering and consulting firms. Through governance sprints, AI-powered Business Operating Systems, opportunity audits, and build programmes, he helps firms get shadow AI under control, find the manual work worth automating, and free capacity for work that actually grows the business.