After a successful summer for challenger bank Shawbrook, B&C caught up with Jim Moulton to find out more about his role with the lender.
1. How long have you been a part of the industry, and how did you come to work at Shawbrook?
I have been in the industry for 11 years on both the lender and the broker side. I started my career with Commercial First very early in its inception before moving to Sydney to take up a role with RESIMAC – the largest residential wholesale funder in Australia. I subsequently moved to the broker side of the coin with Apex Financial Ltd before making a move back to the UK, specifically to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity with Shawbrook and work alongside many former colleagues.
2. What is your role at Shawbrook?
Head of Marketing and Broker Engagement where I am ultimately responsible for running the brand and marketing strategy for the Commercial Mortgages business unit. This involves working with internal and external stakeholders and agencies to provide a robust brand presence within the broker space, increasing the level of engagement with our broker partners to help them build their business and help more clients.
3. What did you want to be when you were younger?
Marine biologist, fighter pilot, fireman, Royal Marine – not necessarily in that order. (I think my career ambitions closely followed whichever film I happened to be watching at the time.)
4. With all the recent appointments, such as Richard Pyman becoming the new CEO, are things moving in a new direction at Shawbrook?
In the grand scheme of things, we are still fairly close to the beginning of what I’m sure will be an incredible journey for the bank and our business partners. We have a first class team steering the ship and I am both delighted and hugely proud to be a part of the Shawbrook family.
5. What would be the one thing you’d take to a desert island, and why?
A generator with a wifi box. Not for emails – just so that I could stay on top of the cricket and rugby scores.
6. If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
Given the fact that I have only been back in the country for six months, I’m not sure that I would be so bold as to make changes just yet. Having said that, any improvements or changes that make access to funding less complex and daunting for the customer would be a win.
7. How have the dedicated teams worked out for Shawbrook – in particular the more established Short Term Lending team?
I joined soon after the launch of this dedicated resource and it was a hugely exciting time in the office with the team really embracing the challenges presented. The teams are very passionate about delivering good service to our broker partners and there are great relationships being formed and cemented each day. The challenges continue but fortunately, so does our quest for improvement.
8. If there was a film made of your life, who would you want to play you and why?
I have no idea! Is Denzel busy?
9. How would you describe the atmosphere at the Shawbrook offices in Brentwood?
I have been fortunate to work for some true visionaries of the lending industry and it is no different at Shawbrook. These are people with a genuine belief in what they are doing and this passion has filtered down though all levels of the business with the result being an incredibly strong culture. Feedback is actively welcomed – both good and bad – and it is really positive to see how this feedback is processed to continually refine the proposition. Everyone has a voice and I think that really shows in what we have brought to market over the past three years.
10. What are your predictions for the short term sector in 2014?
We will undoubtedly see further growth along with greater competition within this space which should be welcomed as a force that stimulates innovation and delivers positive broker and customer outcomes.
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