Roma Finance, the Manchester based bridging finance and development lender, has appointed Steve Baker, previously Managing Director (Retail) at Together Money, as a non-executive director, and Simon Micklethwaite formerly of HSBC as Relationship Manager.

Steve has over 35 years’ senior experience in financial services and specialist lending, covering everything from Board level sales and operations roles to defining and implementing business strategy programmes.

At Roma Finance he will be helping to take the company to the next level of its growth and be influential in developing its future strategy, reviewing and improving processes and introducing new products. As a non-executive board member, he will undertake a review of the bridging sector, including distribution and fulfilment, in order to prepare a road map for Roma Finance to ensure they continue to be an innovative lender and capitalise on new opportunities in a buoyant but changing market.

Simon was previously at HSBC for 18 years in senior roles including working in UK commercial banking committed to providing excellent customer service to enable clients to grow their business and providing structured financial solutions to facilitate the funding requirements via trade loans, and invoice finance facilities.

In his new role, Simon will develop new introducer relationships to enable Roma to facilitate customers borrowing requirements by utilising some of the new funds made available through the new funding line.

Roma Finance recently reported a multi-million pound post-Brexit funding facility via The Royal Bank of Scotland and an impressive 300% increase in lending volumes in Quarter one. They provide fast, flexible bridging loans for a whole host of property uses, including buying unmortgageable properties, conversions, renovations and change of use.

Scott Marshall, Director, commented: “With our lending set to increase significantly now that we have completed the securitisation, our ambitious growth plans are quickly becoming a reality. It’s important to take a strategic look at the way forward and these two appointments mean we are well on track to succeed further in the years ahead. We still require several new BDMs and a National Sales Manager to implement the structure for the rapidly increasing business levels and hope to make appointments soon. The future here we come.”

Steve Baker said: “It’s extremely exciting to be working with the ambitious and pro-active team at Roma Finance. They have built a wonderful business but it’s essential to put the right programmes in place now to handle their growth plans. More introducers are working with them than ever before and they are now experiencing the unique Roma service. It’ll be important to appoint the right new staff, have the latest systems and processes and build good, long lasting relationships within the bridging sector. I’m confident I can provide the strategic input they need to help steer them in this success. It’s tremendous to be part of it.”

Simon commented: “I’m really driven to grow the Roma Finance broker network and build relationships with them in the north east. It’s vital they know how the Roma service differs from other bridging lenders and so far the reception has been tremendous with new loans being written almost immediately after a series of meetings. I’m keen to stress we are very much open for business despite the uncertain economic climate. As the business levels grow the Roma Finance service proposition to brokers will be even more exciting. Watch this space.”