Finlay, managing director for the intermediary channel at Barclays UK Retail and Business Bank, will become the first IMLA chairman from a mainstream retail bank while Charles Haresnape, managing director of residential mortgages at Aldermore, has been appointed as deputy chair.
Finlay said: “I am delighted to have been elected as chairman for IMLA and that Charles Haresnape has agreed to work alongside me as deputy chair.”
He will take the reins from outgoing chairman John Heron from 1 December 2012.
“John Heron has done a fabulous job for IMLA through a really dynamic period in the industry’s history,” said Finlay. “He will be a hard act to follow.”
Finlay added: “Without pre-empting what we aim to deliver on behalf of IMLA members we will continue to work closely with other trade bodies, particularly the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, and hold regular dialogue with the regulator and government to influence their thinking for the benefit of the industry.
“As an inclusive, member-focused trade body we will also seek to ensure our members can regularly meet to share their thoughts and views.”
The election process was well supported by IMLA members and saw a record number of nominations received for the chair and directorships.
Heron, managing director of Paragon Mortgages, was re-elected as a director on the IMLA board where he will sit alongside Richard Tugwell, director of intermediary sales at Virgin Money, and Kevin Purvey, head of intermediary sales at Coventry Building Society.
Heron said: "IMLA has made very significant progress over the last two years. It now represents a much more comprehensive and diverse range of intermediary lenders and counts among its executive committee representatives some of the most experienced individuals in the industry.
“This ensures a very high quality debate and a laser-sharp identification of the challenges our industry faces.”
Heron added: "I am very grateful to the outgoing board for their hard work and support over the last two years. Together we have reinvigorated IMLA as the representative body for intermediary mortgage lenders.
“The strength and diversity of the new board underlines the progress we have made; with a large retail bank, a challenger brand, a leading building society and two specialist lenders for the general and buy-to-let markets.”
