Assetz Capital has added to its origination team with the appointment of John McDonnell as relationship director.

Based in Cheshire and covering the North-West and North Wales, McDonnell (pictured) joins Assetz with a history of business development and financial services roles, with experience in the technical aspects of development and commercial funding.

Assetz has grown its presence in Wales this year through its origination efforts, which have focused on developing communities within the region. The most prolific of these has been Assetz’s £1.7m development loan to housing developer New Generation Developments. The loan has facilitated the ‘Old Mill’ development in Kidwelly, West Wales, which will provide high-specification family homes in a coastal town by Autumn 2022.

McDonnell said: “Assetz mirrors my ambitions completely in its relationship-driven approach. My experience is mostly in development funding, so to be working with a market leader in that space is an exciting prospect. I can’t wait to take the ‘real world’ lending approach to market.”

Andrew Fraser, regional director for UK North at Assetz Capital, added: “I am delighted to be welcoming John to our team. His top-class CV boasts high quality experience in development funding, and as we target record levels of lending with our improved development finance, his appointment comes at the perfect time.”