Crystal Specialist Finance has hired Mark Hutchings, formerly managing director of Berkeley Alexander Insurance Services, as head of strategy and group projects.
In his role, he will grow the company’s proposition and reach in the specialist lending sector.
He worked at Berkeley Alexander Insurance Service between 2007 and 2014, and then again between 2018 and 2022, working his way up to managing director.
Before that he worked at Uinsure for around four years in various roles including head of sales and distribution and national account manager.
Other firms he has worked at include Esure and ACE, the latter of which was bought by Chubb.
Hutchings won business leader for protection or general insurance provider at the British Mortgage Awards in 2020.
Jason Berry, group sales and marketing director at Crystal Specialist Finance, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark. He is an exceptional person who is always passionate about the work he undertakes.
“We have some fresh and exciting initiatives which Mark will now take the lead on. His appointment will undoubtedly help us to enhance the offering we deliver to the intermediary sector.”
Hutchings added: “I am extremely happy to be joining Crystal and very much look forward to being part of the exciting plans.
“I have spent most of my career finding solutions which make things easier for brokers to transact their business and I’m confident there are a few things which can be easily introduced by Crystal and as a result will help those brokers operating in the specialist sector.”
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.
