Hodge has hired Hema Patel as its business development manager (BDM) for the North of England and Scotland.
She takes over from Donna Spence, who has left to take on a role as North West BDM for Fleet Mortgages.
Patel joins from Key Group, where she has worked since 2014 in various senior roles, including BDM. Prior to that she worked at EY, Robert Half International and Key Retirement Solutions.
In her role Patel will support brokers in North of England and Scotland with products and applications, as well as teaching them about the market and the opportunities in it.
Emma Graham, business development director at Hodge, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Hema to the team. She brings with her not only a wealth of experience, but also an enthusiasm and determination to support brokers in the specialist mortgage space.
“It’s an exciting time to be at Hodge and I’m so pleased Hema is here to strengthen the team and help us reach our ambitious targets for 2022.”
Hodge has made a number of hires recently, including Andrea Roberts as its national account manager for the North and Jan Preece has joined as chief financial officer.
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
