Specialist development finance lender Blend has appointed veteran banker and development expert Claire McGirr (pictured) as its new head of portfolio management.
McGirr joins BLEND from Hampshire Trust Bank and will be based in the firm’s London head office.
She will help BLEND transform its portfolio management department by implementing a range of new systems and processes.
In her new role she will work in close collaboration with the lending team headed by managing director David Alcock to drive performance across BLEND’s development finance portfolio.
The addition of McGirr is the latest in a string of appointments which have seen several prominent industry experts join the firm to lead and expand its nationwide development lending efforts.
Over the past few months, BLEND has welcomed a team of senior bankers to its lending team, mainly from Hampshire Trust Bank, Secure Trust Bank and Assetz. David Alcock and Will Powell joined as managing director and lending director earlier this year, both coming from Hampshire Trust Bank.
McGirr joins BLEND with more than 25 years of industry experience, predominantly in residential development, most recently as head of portfolio management within the development finance team at Hampshire Trust Bank.
Prior to that, she spent seven years at Barclays where she worked as a case director within the business support and recoveries team. Before Barclays, she gained experience as part of the origination team in the specialist finance division at Heritable Bank which focused on residential development to SME developers and small construction companies.
Alcock said: “Having worked with Claire before, I know the depth and breadth of her knowledge and am very excited about all the new ideas and new approaches she will bring forward.
“Understanding real estate development and seeing the opportunity through our borrower’s eyes is at the heart of the BLEND story, and Claire’s expertise in this area makes her a terrific addition to our team.
“Furthermore, Claire’ mindset and values tightly aligns with ours at BLEND in that we want to do the deal.”
McGirr added: “I am very pleased to be joining BLEND at such an exciting time. The company has already gained recognition as one of the most solid, trustworthy, and through-the-cycle specialist development finance lenders.
“Its business model, strategy, flexibility, and safe source of capital offer experience property developers flexible, secured funding. I believe the company has a great future and I look forward to playing a strong role in its expansion and success.”
