Assetz Capital has appointed Andrew Charnley to the newly-created role of managing director.

Charnley (pictured) joins the business having spent 28 years working in commercial lending across various asset classes and having undertaken a number of senior leadership roles, most recently at Together.

He will focus on Assetz Capital’s lending side of the business and will oversee a team of 130, reporting directly to Stuart Law, Assetz Group CEO.

Charnley said: “Assetz Capital has consistently been a market leader in the UK alternative lending sector, supporting thousands of UK SMEs and financing billions of pounds worth of new housing.

“At the same time, Assetz has provided a desperately needed alternative to high street lending which has underserved crucial economic sectors over recent decades.

“I’m excited to join the team at a critical moment in the Assetz growth story, as we look to continue to drive market share and innovation, consolidating our position as one of the UK’s top specialist lenders and a business which is growing ever more ambitious in terms of the impact it makes on society.”

Law added: “Andrew will play a huge role in taking Assetz Capital to the next level of growth as we set our sights on growing our influence in the wider housing market.

“One of our longer-term targets is to fund 25% of the SME housebuilding sector and Andrew’s vast experience will support that ambition.”