UTB hires Purdy as head of sales – bridging finance

Purdy (pictured) joins from Together Money, where her latest role was head of intermediary sales for the North region and she was with the lender for over four years in total. 

She has almost 20 years of experience in the specialist finance sector, including a 14-year stint at Shawbrook Bank as its senior relationship manager and a business development manager (BDM) role at Octopus Property. 

Purdy has extensive knowledge of the bridging, buy-to-let, residential and commercial real estate finance sectors. 

Bridging restructure

She has been hired to coincide with the lender’s restructuring of its bridging underwriting function into two dedicated teams. One team will manage its regulated bridging business while the other will handle unregulated applications. 

Purdy will oversee UTB’s team of BDMs and key account manager. She will work closely with Sundeep Patel, who was appointed director of bridging eight months ago. Purdy will also work alongside Becky Kidby, who was recently appointed head of unregulated bridging underwriting. 

The lender is also looking to appoint a head of unregulated bridging underwriting.

Patel said: “Paula has a fantastic track record of success in bridging and specialist finance sales and she is a well-known and much respected industry professional. She is joining UTB at a very exciting time with the restructure of the bridging division into regulated and unregulated underwriting and case management functions set to transform the service we provide to brokers and customers and, at the same time, increase our capability to complete even more business.”

Purdy added: “I am delighted to join UTB’s bridging finance team and to once again work under the leadership of Sundeep Patel. UTB are well respected in the bridging market, and I am proud to be able to play my part in their future growth plans.”