Buy-to-let specialist BM Solutions has appointed Leigh Church (pictured) as its permanent head after an “extensive search process”.
Church took on the role on an interim basis after Phil Rickards stepped down from his role to take on part-time role as chairperson at L&C Mortgages.
Church has over 30 years’ experience in the industry and has spent the last 16 years at BM Solutions as a regional manager.
Before that he worked at Legal and General Mortgage Club between 2000 and 2007, initially joining as a business development manager and then becoming head of sales.
Esther Dijkstra, managing director for intermediaries at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “I am pleased to announce Leigh Church has been appointed head of BM Solutions on a permanent basis and look forward to continuing a successful relationship with him as part of my leadership team.
“The buy-to-let market is going through a challenging period, and strong leadership is needed. Leigh is hugely experienced and has shown during his time as acting head of the business that he is the right choice to lead it going forward.”
Church added: “I am honoured to be given this opportunity. I look forward to continuing to work with BM Solutions, growing the excellent relationships we have in the intermediary market and developing new ones.”
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.
