All change at John Charcol.
John Charcol’s chief executive, chairman and chief financial officer are all departing from the mortgage broker, an internal note seen by Mortgage Introducer has revealed.
CEO Mark Fleet is leaving after two years, the stated reason being in order to find a role closer to his home in Yorkshire, as he has been commuting to Charcol's offices in London and Southampton.
Executive chairman Ian Darby is stepping down after four years to focus on his other positions, in particular his role as executive chairman of Wren Sterling, the financial planner.
Meanwhile CFO Mark Woodall has left the business after three years.
The mortgage broker has moved to replace two of the three lost members of staff.
With immediate effect Nick Winks has been hired as executive chairman and Andy Pearson as chief financial officer.
The broker said Luke Somerset will retain his role as chief operating officer, though he will join Winks and Pearson in the senior management team. The trio will meet with John Charcol staff over the next week to introduce themselves and answer any questions.
Ian Darby will remain a John Charcol shareholder and an adviser to Palatine Private Equity.
Palatine Private Equity, parent of the mortgage broker, said in the note: “Palatine Private Equity wishes to put on record its thanks to the departing directors for the efforts they have made over recent years to improve the performance of John Charcol. They leave with our best wishes for their future success.”
Fleet joined following stints as a director at Money Extra and Skipton Building Society.
John Charcol said he took the top job in September 2017 to deliver a two year change programme, which has now been completed.
This, it added, will pave the way for future growth after establishing John Charcol's telephony advice centre in Southampton, which employs around 36 mortgage and protection advisers.
Fleet said: “Its been a privilege to act as custodian for what is still regarded the leading mortgage brokerage in the UK.
“The team have achieved a huge amount over the past two years and I wish them all the best for the next exciting chapter in Charcol’s long story.”
Somerset said:“Fleet has been a driving force and catalyst for change here at John Charcol and we wish him the best in his new venture.”
“Much of the hard work has been done and our focus now is on driving growth through our self-employed network and employed adviser teams in London, Southampton and Birmingham.”
