Appointments

Five specialist lenders bolster teams




Avamore Capital, Bridge Help, YBS Commercial Mortgages, Bridging Finance Solutions and Lendhub have all made changes to their teams.

Avamore Capital

Avamore Capital has promoted Toran Selim to head of asset management.

Toran will be taking over full-time management of the department from principal Nikolay Petkov, who will now hold an overarching role within the business.

In his new position, he will play a key part in reviewing operational processes post-completion.

He will hold close working relationships with key service provider partners and will ensure Avamore is collectively delivering on an outstanding borrower experience.

In addition, Toran seeks to grow the department further so that it is well prepared to service new and repeat customers, handle the expected uptick in the number of deals to manage post-completion and to contribute to Avamore’s completion targets for 2021. 

A new hire for the asset management team is due to join in June and additional team members will be added later in the year.

“I am incredibly excited to take on the role as head of asset management,” said Toran.

“As the Avamore loan book grows, it is my number one priority to ensure prudent loan monitoring for our borrowers and that we always remain flexible and willing to work on a case-by-case basis.”

Toran has been instrumental in on-boarding new payment platform, Shieldpay, which has allowed greater flexibility on payments and created increased levels of transparency for the borrower.

He has also helped the lender reach the milestone of surpassing £150m worth of redemptions with no impairments to date.

Nikolay commented: “Toran has been a huge asset to the business since he joined. 

“He’s been instrumental in shaping how the department operates and will no doubt continue to make a positive impact on the wider team and the experience our borrowers have.” 

Lendhub

Lendhub has hired Sally O’Loughlin as a credit manager.

In her new role, she will be underwriting Lendhub’s bridging and development transactions and working closely with the BDMs to complete cases.

Sally joins the company from Octopus Real Estate, where she worked as a junior development underwriter.

Prior to this, she was a commercial analyst for Metro Bank.

The new appointment is the sixth new hire for the specialist lender during lockdown, with more to expected to come.

“I’m excited to work for a young, promising and vibrant company with the opportunity to work closely with senior members of the business and to be instrumental in the growth and success of the company,” said Sally. 

Asim Shirwani, chief commercial officer at Lendhub, added: “We are extremely pleased to be welcoming Sally to the Lendhub team.

“Her wealth of industry experience supports our vision to provide first-class service to our brokers and borrowers while we grow our loan book and expand our proposition.”

Bridge Help

Bridge Help has appointed Naseer Ahmed as head of sales for London and the South East.

Naseer brings 13 years of experience in client relationship management and corporate and commercial banking to his new role, 10 of which have been spent working with high street banks — including Santander, Lloyds Bank and TSB Bank —where he specialised in commercial banking, before entering the bridging sector in 2019.

He joins Bridge Help from TFG Capital Limited, where he was a regional sales director for bridging and development finance.

Prior to this, he worked at Kuflink as head of sales for bridging and development finance.

Bridge Help expects to announce more strategic business development appointments in order to deliver over £25m in short-term loans this year.

In addition, Danny Power has been promoted to head of sales for the North West.

Commenting on his appointment, Naseen said he was delighted to join the team.

“Bridge Help offers a fresh and evolving approach in a saturated market.

“The company puts relationship building at the heart of the deal, backed by some excellent in-house systems.”

Chris Sellars, chief executive at Bridge Help, stated: “Our loan book is growing daily and it’s important to me that we have the right people, like Danny, in place at a regional level to continue to develop solid, long-term relationships with brokers throughout the country. 

“Naseer’s appointment represents a very important milestone for the business. 

“I am confident that Naseer will make significant inroads with brokers in London and the South East.”

YBS Commercial Mortgages

YBS Commercial Mortgages has recruited Chris Gagg as a relationship director for the Midlands team.

Chris has operated in the commercial lending sector for 13 years and has a broad network of existing relationships. 

He will be working closely with regional director John Little and relationship directors James Steadman and Khalid Mahmood.

While Chris will be working from home initially, he will be based at the YBS Commercial Mortgages office on New Street in Birmingham when restrictions are lifted.

“I am looking forward to being part of the growth plan we have for the Midlands and contributing to the development of YBS Commercial Mortgages,” he said.

“There is already a lot of momentum here and I am looking forward to completing my first deal!”

John added: “I’m so pleased to welcome Chris to the team. 

“I’m really looking forward to his contribution and I have no doubt that with his experience and contacts in commercial property he’ll quickly become an invaluable member of the team.”

Bridging Finance Solutions

Bridging Finance Solutions has appointed Steve Allen as a senior business development manager in the south of England and South Wales.

Steve brings an industry background of over 30 years to the new role, having joined the team from Hope Capital.

He will work closely alongside the company’s new head of sales, Lee Gilmore, to enhance the broker experience and further drive sales.

“This is a perfect position for me that presents a fantastic opportunity within a growing and ambitious company,” said Steve.

“I’m now looking forward to becoming part of this brilliant team and supporting and driving through continued growth, diversification and expansion.”

Steve Barber, managing director at Bridging Finance Solutions, commented: “We're incredibly pleased to be able to welcome Steve on board. 

“He brings a huge level of experience to this new, senior position and has a wealth of understanding, knowledge and contacts within our industry.

“To date, our business model has retained an over-arching focus on the North of England, however, Steve’s appointment supports a strategic shift that will ultimately see us focus on the whole of the UK, with a continued emphasis on the bridging and development loan markets.”

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