Bevan Money, the bank which focuses on the housing needs of public sector workers, has appointed Brian Brodie as CEO.

Mel Lane takes on the position of deputy CEO, enabling her to focus on the development of the Bevan proposition, delivering on her vision of helping more public sector workers out of renting and into owner occupation.

Brodie (pictured) joins Bevan from Freedom Finance, where he was group CEO and, most recently, chair. He has also worked as a senior adviser at Pollen Street Capital and held director roles at Virgin Money, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and HML.

Bevan, which submitted its application for a banking licence last May, plans to provide mortgages, funded by retail deposits, designed to meet the specific requirements of public sector workers.

Lane said: “I’ve drafted scores of documents, attended similar numbers of meetings, worried, obsessed and agonised at every stage of getting Bevan Money from a conceptual possibility to a point where we are now at an advanced stage of the application process for a banking licence, with the funding we need to transform the concept into reality. Throughout this long process, I’ve chosen people to join me, run many months of procurements, racked up weeks of market research and inched forward – because I believe in Bevan Money.

“What we need at Bevan now is a highly experienced, knowledgeable Chief Executive Officer to lead us forward into full authorisation, launch and profitability and I’m delighted to confirm that our board has selected Brian Brodie to be Bevan’s CEO. I feel like I’m handing over a loved, nurtured and cosseted infant into the competent hands of an experienced parent. In Brian I can see someone I can work for and with and I welcome him warmly into the Bevan family.

Brodie added: “I’m delighted and honoured to be given the opportunity to lead Bevan Money through the final stages of regulatory authorisation. Mel has done an incredible job and has secured the necessary funding to allow the business to move to mobilisation in due course. Our focus will always be on supporting public sector employees who want to get on the housing ladder or who want a more fulfilling retirement.

“We all stood on our doorsteps and applauded our key workers during covid and at Bevan we are determined to convert this positivity in to tangible and meaningful change. I know that everyone in the business has a passion to make this a reality and I’m sure this journey will be special for everyone involved.”