West One Loans grows second charge team with hires and makes promotions

West One has hired Lou Blair as senior underwriter and recruited Abby Hall to the newly-created role of training and development manager.

Blair joins from Bluestone Mortgages, where he worked for around four years in various roles including underwriting manager. Prior to that he worked at Pepper Money for nearly two years.

Hall previously worked at Pepper Money for around three years, most recently as a senior underwriting specialist. She has also held senior roles at Mortgage Advice Bureau and L&C.

West One promotions

On the underwriting side, the company has promoted Tara Lane and Amelia Dorey to senior underwriters, working alongside Blair.

Lane has worked at the firm for around six years, moving up from administrator and Dorey has been with West One as an underwriter for around two years.

Michael Halsey has been promoted to the new role of second charge business development manager for the South and South West.

He has been with the firm for around four years and has worked across underwriting and servicing.

Demand for second charge rising

Marie Grundy, managing director of West One’s second charge division said: “Demand for second charge mortgages is on the rise as more mortgage intermediaries are recognising that this type of borrowing can potentially deliver best advice for homeowners looking to capital raise, without disturbing their existing mortgage arrangements.

“It has been a year of major growth for the second charge team and we have ambitious plans to continue building on what we do. Lou, Abby and Michael are three fantastic additions and with Tara and Amelia’s promotions, we are further enhancing the knowledge, skills and experience we have in-house.”

West One have been busy on the appointment front in the past few months. In July, Mortgage Solutions reported that the firm had hired Masthaven’s former first charge nation account manager John Smith.

A month earlier, West One appointed two new business development managers as part of its plan to expand its bridging business in the north.