Crooke will lead the mortgages intermediary division which was formally launched after a pilot last year
He joins from Virgin Money where he was regional sales manager having spent almost 20 years at the lender and its predecessor Northern Rock.
In his last post Crooke was responsible for intermediary service and sales across the North of the UK.
And as vice chairman of Virgin Money’s Intermediary Oversight Panel he was responsible for monitoring the performance of the company’s intermediaries and distribution channel to mitigate risks.
He also led improvements to the business’ mortgage operations and helped design its broker segmentation and sales model.
Broker strategy
Sainsbury’s said the appointment marked a key stage in its broker strategy, and the lender now has distribution arrangements with nine intermediary partners.
They are: Legal & General, Openwork, Savills, Alexander Hall, First Mortgage, Springtide, Mortgage Advice Bureau, Stonebridge Group and L&C Mortgages.
Sainsbury’s Bank head of banking David Buxton said: “This is an important appointment for the bank as we continue to put our broker distribution model at the heart of our strategy to grow our mortgage business.
“David’s mortgage sales experience makes him an excellent fit for our team.”
Crooke (pictured) added: “I’m delighted to be joining a bank with such rich customer heritage, and that’s committed to growing its business through a strong broker network.”
He started his career with the then Halifax Building Society.