ING Direct – and, indeed, Scotia -- is actively working to find placements within the two organizations for workers affected by the coming exit, says an exec now deluged with broker well-wishes.
“The focus of both ING and Scotia is the staff,” Kim Luxton, director of ING’s broker services, told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. “The intention is to retain as many employees and find new positions within either organization.”
The comments answer the concerns of many brokers now extolling the professionalism of Luxton and her team of eight regional sales leaders as well as the much larger group of underwriters that handles both broker and direct-to-consumer deals. Those mortgage professionals have also inquired after the fate of inside sales support workers in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement ING Direct will cease broker originations effective Feb. 16.
In making the announcement, Luxton identified the need to reduce overlap between ING and Scotia in terms of operations and product.
The news hasn’t quelled broker respect for the upstart lender that came to the hannel ten years ago.
“We have loved working with the staff at ING over the years and are sad to see this relationship ending,” Dan Eisner, CEO of True North Mortgage, one of the lender’s biggest supporters, told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. “We have always found them to be honest, hardworking team players. I know Scotia recognizes their value and I wish the staff all the best during this transition.”
Part of that process, said Luxton, are meetings with affected workers, an effort to find “common fits” within the revamped Scotia-ING family. Still some existing positions may see little disruption at all.
“We still have to service a very large portfolio,” said channel veteran Luxton.
