SDKA has announced the appointment of four new team members as part of its ongoing expansion, following a successful recruitment drive this year.
Gemma Carson and Alex Swan have been appointed as underwriters, marking a significant expansion of the underwriting department.
With a career spanning over 17 years in finance, Carson brings a wealth of experience to her role, having previously served in a peer-to-peer lending company where she worked with clients requiring commercial, development and bridging finance.
Swan, who transitioned from a development lender where he served in a graduate underwriting role, is well-prepared for the fast pace of underwriting at SDKA.
Both Carson and Swan will work closely with brokers, clients, surveyors and legal teams to ensure efficient and prompt completion of tasks.
“I really liked the opportunity that SDKA offered me; a new role with new challenges! Having worked in fast-paced lending for the past six years, I feel I can hit the ground running and get to work on the busy pipeline of deals,” Carson said.
Swan added: “I am looking forward to excelling at my role at SDKA, who are providing the opportunity for me to learn and practice a wider field of lending. I am keen to underwrite with practical reasoning.”
Additionally, Geoff Longden has been appointed as portfolio manager, bringing his extensive knowledge of corporate lending and portfolio management to the role. Longden will be responsible for maintaining relationships with clients throughout the term of the loan and managing conditions of the facility.
SDKA has also created a new finance role for Soorya Pillai, whose background in accounting will support the management team with growth plans and the production of analytical data.
The new appointments are expected to inject additional knowledge into SDKA, allowing the management team to concentrate on the company’s growth and doubling the loan book for another consecutive year.
Kunal Mehta, managing director at SDKA, expressed his excitement over the new appointments, “Not only have we recruited experience, but we have managed to secure people with a passion for delivery which is what SDKA is all about.
“We have a strong underwriting team in preparation for the influx of deals coming in, and by recruiting a portfolio manager, this defines roles and allows Geoff to focus purely on post-completion service while the Underwriters work on getting the deal across the line.’’
SDKA, renowned for its focus on customer service, is well on track to meet and likely exceed its targets for the year.
