Hope Capital has appointed Maria Magnussen (pictured) as business development manager.
The appointment comes as Hope Capital aims to double its loan book and grow staff numbers by 50% by the end of 2017.
The firm has an initial tranche of £50m worth of funds for London and the south, and will lend on residential and commercial properties with non-regulated loans of up to £5m for a maximum of 12 months.
Magnussen was formerly a director at SPF Private Clients and a business development manager at Dragonfly.
Jonathan Sealey, chief executive of Hope Capital, said: “We are looking to double our loan book this year and to do that most effectively we decided that we needed an experienced presence in the south to achieve this.
“Having worked as a broker in the specialist broking market herself, Maria understands the requirements, frustrations and expectations of brokers.
“I am therefore confident that she will add real value to our brokers and introducers by ensuring they receive a totally dedicated service.”
Magnussen added: “Having previously worked as a mortgage broker, I know what makes a good BDM and what doesn’t. It is about having the ability to interact with clients and showing them that you understand their situation.
“Although the bridging price war continues to rumble on, with many loan-to-values going up and lenders becoming more pedantic, the market is continuing to show resilience.
“Now seems the perfect time for Hope Capital to increase its presence and dedicated support in London and the south.”
