Brightstar has appointed Chris Bennett as its first business development manager (BDM).

He will report to director of sales, Clive Willson.

Bennett started in financial services at the Halifax and has been in the industry for over 35 years, having worked in a business development role for Future Mortgages, Beacon Mortgages and latterly Magellan Homeloans. He joined Brightstar in 2015 and is CeMap and FPC qualified.

Willson said the appointment is the first of a number of BDM appointments, as the specialist distributor looks to build on its record year in 2014.

“Building on our success is clearly our key objective this year,’ said Willson. “Part of that strategy is to move proactively to provide new and existing introducers with a new resource in the shape of knowledgeable and professional development managers, who can explain in person the advantages of the Brightstar proposition as well as help with product knowledge.

“I have known Chris for many years. We worked closely together at Future Mortgages and Beacon Homeloans and I am delighted to have such an experienced practitioner representing Brightstar. Chris will enhance the link that we have been establishing between our intermediaries and the specialist teams within the HUB.”

Bennett added: “Brightstar has already made a big impact on the intermediary market and I am excited to be joining the company at this time of huge growth. Clive and I have always been part of strong sales teams and I am sure that under his leadership, the new BDM team will prove to be particularly effective in enhancing the Brightstar proposition.”