Connect appoints commercial lending specialist

Norman joins from Atom Bank where he was a business development manager (BDM). Prior to Atom, he spent nine years at HSBC specialising in commercial banking.

His appointment is aimed at helping brokers feel more comfortable in placing commercial deals, Connect said.

The network reported increased demand for commercial mortgage help.

Norman can deal with commercial mortgages of all sizes but is particularly expert in more complex deals of £1m plus, or management-buy-outs that involve the purchase or sale of a commercial property.

Master class training

He will also offer master classes to brokers from Connect’s offices in Essex.

Norman said: “I want to give both brokers and their clients the very best experience.

“I know that I will be able to increase the completion rate of commercial mortgages especially for those clients with companies or more complex commercial needs.

“Connect’s independence and the incredibly broad range of lenders that it works with means that we can find the perfect product every time.

“My aim has always been to create a situation where everyone wins and I will only ever place a deal that will be an advantage to the client.

“My aim is to enhance the broker’s reputation with their client, save them time and worry, achieve a higher level of completions than they may otherwise have been able to achieve, and enable them to see more clients than they would otherwise be able to.”

Liz Syms, chief executive of Connect for Intermediaries (pictured), said: “Gareth’s addition to our strong commercial team will mean that we can provide brokers with assistance even for the most complex commercial cases.

“Connect is already well known for providing brokers with expert help and advice for commercial and buy-to-let mortgages.

“Gareth’s appointment will mean that we can take this one step further again.”