10 April 2015
Intermediary mortgage business boosts numbers as part of growth agenda.
A number of key appointments have boosted Bank of Ireland UK’s sales team within the UK intermediary mortgage market – ensuring top level service for the organisation’s partners across the country. Coming alongside a new partnership with the Openwork network, the move marks the latest stage of the business’ roll out strategy for 2015, following re-entry into the market under its own brand in December.
Bank of Ireland’s new Head of Corporate Accounts Iain Smith has over 25 years of experience in the mortgage and lending markets having moved from Accord Mortgages where he was Sales Director. He brings with him long established relationships with many of the largest mortgage distributors, having been a central part of Accord’s launch into the market. His role at Bank of Ireland UK will include the strengthening of the intermediary-focused sales support structure to better serve brokers and the galvanising of relationships across the market.
Iain Smith promised his team will be dedicated to providing a truly relationship driven service, saying “There are many great people working across the market, and I am looking forward to working with them to support their businesses and help re-establish Bank of Ireland at the forefront of intermediaries’ minds.”
Following Iain from Accord Mortgages is Ed Payne, who is now Bank of Ireland for intermediaries Regional Sales Manager for Corporate Accounts in the South of England. In his previous role, the law graduate was responsible for establishing Accord’s first national account programme, while he also worked Head of Sales during his time at Southern Pacific Personal Loans.
Former National Account Manager at Virgin Money Ed Brown also joins Bank of Ireland as Regional Sales Manager for Corporate Accounts in the North of England. Based in Birmingham, his previous job centred around responsibility for cultivating and protecting relationships with some of the UK’s largest mortgage distributors.
Further adding to Bank of Ireland UK’s intermediary mortgage team, a number of new Corporate Account Managers have been appointed to work with brokers across the country, bringing with them around 200 years of financial service and mortgage market experience to the business.
These hires come as part of an expansion project which has seen 160 new members of staff join Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries’ expanding sales and underwriting teams, and the opening of a new mortgage processing centre to ensure brokers continue to receive excellent service.
Alison Pallett, Director of Sales at Bank of Ireland UK, welcomed the news, saying “The appointment of Iain and his team is a great step forward in our re-entry into the intermediary market. We are now well positioned to provide our partners with the very best service possible at a time when demand looks set to grow.”