UTB and Paragon make development finance hires

Ejikeme (pictured) joins from Oaknorth Bank where he worked as a senior manager of property development, while at UTB his role will involve supporting housebuilders and developers in the South and East of England. 

He has nearly 15 years‘ experience in property finance and has previously worked at Lloyds Bank and Secure Trust Bank.  

Ejikeme will be based in London and work with UTB property development director Phil Kirkwood.  

He will be primarily responsible for promoting the lender’s development finance offering to SME house builders, developers and property investors.  

Adam Bovingdon, senior director of property development at United Trust Bank, said: “We’re continuing to expand the property development team by recruiting experienced property finance professionals with the skills and drive to support SME developers and housebuilders across the country.  

“Achi brings with him nearly 15 years of experience working with a wide range of customers on a variety of development projects and most importantly he shares our passion for delivering outstanding customer service. He is a valuable addition to the UTB team. 

Paragon adds relationship director 

Paragon Bank has hired Toby Burgess as a relationship director to its development finance team. 

He will be based in the London office and work with SME developers across England and Wales, focussing on originating loans secured on residential projects. 

Burgess has experience in financial services and property finance and he joins from Wellesley Finance where he was lending manager. Prior to that, he worked at GFI Group.  

Burgess said: “I am delighted to be joining Paragon’s development finance team. I am looking forward to helping Paragon to continue to grow its development finance business as well as working with a variety of creative and hard-working developers and housebuilders.” 

Robert Orr, development finance managing director at Paragon Bank, added: “Bringing somebody in with Toby’s expertise and experience will help us to continue supporting our current and new to bank clients, while growing our loan book. 

“We have remained active throughout this challenging period when other lenders have retrenched and, looking forward, we are confident in the prospects for the market.

“The demand for new housing looks like it will remain strong into the future and smaller developers want to work with a bank that is consistent, is financially strong and has the experience and expertise to support their business,” he added.