Ex-Together MD joins rival bridging lender to drive up business

Simon Micklethwaite, formerly of HSBC, has joined the team as relationship manager.

Baker brings over 35 years’ senior experience in financial services and specialist lending to the Manchester-based bridging finance and development lender.

He will help the firm hit its growth targets and be influential in developing its future strategy, reviewing and improving processes and introducing new products. As a non-executive board member, he will undertake a review of the bridging sector, including distribution and fulfilment, in order to prepare a road map for Roma Finance to ensure it continues to be an innovative lender and can capitalise on new opportunities.

Micklethwaite was previously at HSBC for 18 years in various senior roles. He will have responsibility for developing new introducer relationships to enable Roma to facilitate customers borrowing requirements.

Roma Finance recently reported a multi-million pound post-Brexit funding facility via Royal Bank of Scotland and a 300% increase in lending volumes in quarter one.

Scott Marshall, director, said: “With our lending set to increase significantly now that we have completed the securitisation, our ambitious growth plans are quickly becoming a reality. It’s important to take a strategic look at the way forward and these two appointments mean we are well on track to succeed further in the years ahead. We still require several new BDMs and a national sales manager to implement the structure for the rapidly increasing business levels and hope to make appointments soon.”