Short-term finance lender SDKA has made four senior team changes, including the promotion of Alex Swan to head of underwriting, following a financial year in which pre-tax profit remained at about £3.3 million.
Swan (main picture, right) joined SDKA as an underwriter in May 2023 and has progressed to the senior leadership team. He will oversee the lender’s underwriting function and play a role in the future direction of the business.
Chris Simpson, who joined SDKA as an underwriter in March 2025, has been promoted to senior underwriter, filling the position vacated by Swan.
Josh Draper, who joined as a graduate underwriter in December 2024, has been promoted to underwriter, while Sharon Penter has become operations manager after joining the lender as an administrator in September 2024 and subsequently taking on a wider role.
The appointments follow a financial year in which SDKA reported pre-tax profits of about £3.3 million for the period from March 2025 to March 2026.
Loans completed during the period ranged from £28,000 to £2.275 million, with an average transaction size of £258,000.
Residential lending accounted for 40% of the lender’s business, with semi-commercial and commercial lending each representing 30%.
SDKA also marked its tenth anniversary in April, when more than 250 guests attended an event under the wings of Concorde. The event raised more than £9,000 for Seashell Trust, a charity supporting young people with learning disabilities.
During the same month, Shawbrook Bank and Aldermore Bank renewed their combined multi-million-pound funding lines with SDKA. The lender said the facilities would provide greater flexibility for cases outside standard criteria and support products including its Bridge To Term offering.
“Their experience and expertise will be invaluable as SDKA continues to grow and evolve.”
Kunal Mehta (main picture, left), managing director of SDKA, says: “As always we look ahead and plan for growth, and to be in the best possible position to meet our targets we need the best people and a widening remit of competitive short-term finance products.
“Alex, Chris, Josh and Sharon have played a pivotal role in our growth over the last few years, and their progression reflects the strength of our team. Their experience and expertise will be invaluable as SDKA continues to grow and evolve.”
