Fleet Mortgages has appointed Nicola Richardson (pictured) as its new managing director.
Richardson joined Fleet at its launch in 2014 as head of finance and has since held senior roles including finance director, chief financial officer, and most recently chief finance and operating officer.
She has over 14 years’ experience in financial services and is a chartered accountant with an AMCT qualification, gained during a treasury role at CHL Mortgages.
Richardson will now oversee the day-to-day running of Fleet Mortgages, with responsibility for overall leadership, performance, and strategy.
Her role will include developing Fleet’s proposition through ongoing investment in technology, refining lending criteria, updating products and pricing, and supporting broker partners.
Richardson said: “I’m very pleased to be taking on the role of Managing Director at Fleet, having been part of the business since it was established nearly 12 years ago.
“Over that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a number of areas and help build Fleet into the strong position it holds today, which gives me a clear understanding of both how we operate and where I would like to take the business next.
“Our focus now is on continuing to evolve Fleet in a way that strengthens our proposition, supports our intermediary partners and meets the needs of landlord borrowers.”
Richardson added: “That means investing further in our technology to improve efficiency and user experience, keeping our criteria and product range relevant and competitive, and maintaining a high-quality service proposition throughout the application process.
“We also remain focused on strengthening our teams, particularly in terms of the support we provide to brokers, recognising the key role they play in our success.
“By working closely together and maintaining a clear focus on delivering consistent outcomes, we believe we can continue to grow the business in a sustainable way while adapting to changing market conditions.”
She said: “I strongly believe the best results come from a collaborative approach, with clear goals and a shared commitment across the business.
“That will remain central to how we operate as we move into the next stage of Fleet’s development.
“I am fortunate to have a very supportive parent in Starling Group and an amazing team here; together we’ll be working to ensure Fleet continues to be a leader in the specialist buy-to-let lending space.”