Whitehall Lending has strengthened its senior team with three appointments as the specialist bridging lender pushes ahead with expansion plans, a new AVM-only product and an enhanced broker incentive.
The lender has recruited a new head of operations along with two business development managers, moves aimed at supporting higher deal volumes and widening broker coverage across the UK.
The hires come as Whitehall also launches a valuation-light bridging product and introduces a proposition allowing brokers to retain the full 2% arrangement fee on qualifying residential deals, underlining intensifying competition for intermediary business in the sector.
The firm says the changes are designed to improve speed of execution, increase introducer engagement and strengthen operational capacity as activity in the short-term lending market remains strong.
NEW HIRES
Chris Cox (main picture, inset left) has joined as head of operations, having previously held senior roles at Century Capital, Masthaven and Alternative Bridging. He will oversee lending processes, systems and case flow as the business scales its pipeline.
Whitehall has also appointed Jack Hudgkin (main picture, inset middle) as business development manager for the South. He joins from Brydge Capital and previously worked at BG Lending and will focus on building broker relationships across London, the South East and surrounding regions.
Shahmoz Rafiq (main picture, inset right) has joined as business development manager for the North, joining from MFS. He will be responsible for broker coverage across northern regions and supporting deal origination.
AVM-ONLY BRIDGING
Alongside the hires, Whitehall has launched a new AVM-only bridging product for loans up to £500,000, with rates starting from 0.89% per month, removing the need for a physical valuation on qualifying cases.
The lender has also introduced a broker incentive under which it will pay 100% of the 2% arrangement fee to intermediaries on residential bridging deals below £2m up to 70% LTV.
Anthony Bodenstein, managing director at Whitehall Lending, says: “These recruits represent a significant step forward for Whitehall Lending. Chris brings the operational rigour we need to scale efficiently, while Jack and Shahmoz give us experienced, dedicated coverage across the UK.
“Combined with our full 2% arrangement fee offer, we’re sending a clear message: Whitehall Lending is the lender that puts brokers first.”
