Regentsmead promotes Sam Howard to COO

Howard joined the company following his MBA in 2011 and was made director in 2015. He has a background in property law and managing property portfolios.

In his new role he will be working alongside head of lending and chief marketing officer Ashley Ilsen and chairman Richard Ross, focusing on operational risk and the management of the current loan book.

Regentsmead said it had recently recorded its “most profitable year ever” and was in the process of releasing a new range of products, which will promise lower rates.

The products will be launched in September and will replace the firm’s two existing offerings for new builds, conversions and reforms, it said.

Regentsmead was established in 1934 as a specialist lender to property developers.

In June it emerged its former CEO James Bloom had joined Masthaven Bank as managing director of its newly-created specialist development finance division, which will deliver tailored savings and second charge products.

Ilsen said: “It’s great to get Sam on board at such an exciting time for the business. The pipeline has been excellent over the last few months and we expect the loan book to grow again this year. I’m really looking forward to working with Sam and growing the business further.”