Hampshire Trust Bank has promoted Henry Manley-Cooper to deputy managing director of bridging finance as the lender strengthens senior leadership within its specialist property finance division.
The appointment comes as short-term finance becomes increasingly embedded within the wider capital strategies of professional investors and developers.
As transaction complexity grows and exit routes become less certain, bridging finance is increasingly being structured to support continuity into longer-term funding facilities.
Manley-Cooper (pictured) joined Hampshire Trust Bank as a senior underwriter within the bank’s second line credit function. Since then, he has played a role in strengthening credit discipline and commercial alignment across the bridging business.
In his new position he will report to Alex Upton, managing director of specialist mortgages and bridging finance, and work alongside Andrea Glasgow, sales director of specialist mortgages and bridging finance.
The role will involve supporting proposition development, governance oversight and the continued evolution of the bank’s bridging division.
Before joining the bank, Manley-Cooper held senior credit roles across the specialist property finance market, including positions at Acre Lane Capital and Avamore Capital. During this time he structured complex residential and value-add transactions across the non-bank sector.
Upton says: “Bridging is being deployed with greater intent. Brokers are introducing it earlier in transactions to manage sequencing risk, create flexibility and align short-term funding with longer-term objectives.
“That evolution raises expectations. Speed remains important, but clarity of structure and strength of governance are decisive.
“Underwriting must be robust, exits must be credible and decisions must remain consistent as cases move from bridge to term or form part of broader portfolio strategies.
“Henry brings commercial judgement and disciplined credit thinking. His appointment strengthens our ability to deliver structured growth while maintaining consistent standards as transaction complexity increases.”
Manley-Cooper adds: “I am pleased to be taking on this role at a point when the bridging market is becoming more deliberate and more integrated within wider funding strategies.
“Investors and developers are operating with greater intent, and brokers are advising within increasingly joined-up capital plans.
“That requires lenders to provide clarity earlier and remain consistent as transactions evolve.
“My focus will be on strengthening alignment across underwriting, sales and credit, while continuing to develop a proposition that gives brokers confidence in complex cases.
“As short-term finance becomes more embedded within long-term strategies, clear structure and consistent decision-making will be central to how we support the market.”
