Prior to their promotions, Leanne and Steve served as head of bridging and head of development finance, respectively.

They will oversee LendInvest’s growth in regulated and unregulated bridging, bridge-to-let loans, and development finance.

Leanne has been with LendInvest since it’s inception in 2013 and has held several leadership roles at the company.

Steve joined LendInvest in 2015 and has been managing the firm’s existing portfolio as well as leading the financing of development projects across the UK.

His new role also includes a seat on the company’s senior leadership team.

Leanne commented: "This promotion comes at a special time for me, as it coincides with celebrating my 13th year at the company.

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“Bridging loans have always been LendInvest’s ‘bread and butter,’ and in a time where more property investors are seeing the value in short-term lending, I look forward to leading the charge when it comes to supporting our customers through our product propositions and ensuring that our processes keep up with today’s fast-paced lending environment.”

Steve added: “I am delighted to have been promoted to managing director of development finance and to be joining the senior leadership team at LendInvest.

“Our sector has a massive opportunity to play an integral part in building houses for the future and LendInvest can play its own part in allocating important funding to SME property developers.

“I’m also looking forward to helping drive the strategic direction of the wider business as we continue to move ahead with our own plans across our various lending platforms.”

Commenting on both promotions, Rod Lockhart, CEO at LendInvest, said: “Bridging loans are a critical financial tool, empowering thousands of SME property developers across the country to drive the UK's delivery of high-quality homes — enabling them to move quickly to secure opportunities and retrofit existing properties.

“The appointment of Leanne recognises not only her unrivalled experience and leadership in this sector, but also the pivotal role bridging finance will play in LendInvest’s future as we pivot back to profitability and accelerate our lending.

“Steve’s deep expertise in property development will be instrumental as we continue to expand our offering and strengthen our position as a leading lender in this space."