10 questions with…Lauren Dolezel of Aldermore Bank

10 questions with…Lauren Dolezel of Aldermore Bank




B&C speaks to the woman in the driving seat for Aldermore Bank's newly launched bridging offering... .

B&C speaks to the woman in the driving seat for Aldermore Bank's newly launched bridging offering. 

1. Firstly, congratulations on your new role! What have you been up to since working at Aldermore’s new bridging division?
I have been recruiting a new team, building new systems and focusing on business processes and policies.
 
I’ve also been meeting a lot of new people and planning for the coming months - so my days are quite busy.
 
2. Have you worked in bridging before? Where did you work and how was it different?
I have been with Aldermore for nearly five years, working across various parts of the business, most recently with the commercial side of mortgages. I have a team with a strong track record in bridging finance.
 
3. What was your main reason to work in the new bridging team and how did you get the job?
I have worked on projects within Aldermore previously building new systems, so the launching of a new product and team was an opportunity to call on my previous experience of this.
I am also lucky enough that it encompasses all the things I love: working closely with brokers and intermediaries to take a product to market; growing a customer base; and working to evolve a new proposition.
 
4.       What sort of challenges are you hoping to tackle in your new role?
Our main focus is to build Aldermore’s name in the bridging industry and to be recognised for how we do business both with Intermediaries and customers.
 
5.       What are the main goals for Aldermore’s bridging team for this year? Will we see any exciting developments?
It is key that we establish ourselves in the market and ensure we get our offering right. As always, Aldermore is constantly looking for progression in what we do and how we do it.
We have plans to strengthen our product offering and our reach within the market so watch this space.
 
6.       What are your views on regulation?
As a bank regulated by the FCA and PRA, we have been operating under a regulatory framework since our inception in 2009. While our bridging proposition currently operates in the unregulated part of the market, we adhere to high standards in this space. Regulated bridging products are very much on our radar and something we are likely to consider in due course.  
 
7.       How do you spend your free time at the weekends?
We have recently got a puppy which is just brilliant, but a little all-consuming at the moment. My other favorite activities are a nice glass of wine in the sunshine (when we get it) and eating good food.
I really like my garden, although I am not a fan of snails so I only do bits and make my husband do the not so fun bits.
 
8.       If you weren’t working in finance, where would you be working?
I would love to work in the police - perhaps I watch too many crime dramas... 
 
9.       Is there anything within the bridging industry you would change?
I think the industry has changed a lot over the past five years in particular and has improved its reputation immensely. I would like to see a continuing improvement in the perceptions of the bridging market going forward, with adherence to high standards of service to all clients. 

10.    If you could have dinner with three other people (dead or alive) who would it be?
Trevor Noah, a truly brilliant South African comedian and you know you would have a brilliant night.
Bruce Springsteen - I’ve always been a big fan. And Dolly Parton - she comes across as really down to earth, but clearly has a brilliant business mind to have endured the industry for as long and turned her hand to so many different things.               
 

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