Network boss David Ewing has left Ingard after a quarter of a century to pursue new opportunities.

Ewing set up the business in the late 1990’s with his brother-in-law Rob Howard and the firm quickly grew as an umbrella firm for 30 plus brokers offering help and assistance as well as compliance support.

As the business grew the company became limited in 2006 with a number of directly authorised firms operating underneath its compliance umbrella and then took on network status around 2008 as it started to provide additional services to it its brokers.

COMPLIANCE GRIP

Ingard quickly became renowned for its grip on compliance and soon attracted more members firms and at one point reached 120 brokers.

Then in May 2009 Nikki Haworth, former head of Mortgage 2000 – the broker arm of Moneysupermarket – joined the network as sales and marketing director.

Between Ewing and Haworth the network blossomed but market conditions, notably the Global Financial Crisis and the following recession hampered further growth plans.

Haworth officially left the business in January this year and has now joined compliance firm Rockstead as senior business development manager.

Ingard itself has been acquired by Glasgow-based Old Plane Tree Investments (OPTI) for an undisclosed sum.

OPTI is run by director Allan Currie, who is also a director of Glasgow-based firms McCall, Aitken, McKenzie & Co and Dynamis People Care.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Ewing told Mortgage Soup: “For various reasons I have not been able to focus on the business as much as I would have liked and I felt it was the right time to look at new opportunities within our sector and leave someone else to take over the mantle, bring new ideas and grow Ingard.

“I look forward to watching from a distance at how ingard evolves going forward, as I look forward to what I believe is a truly great industry which with the right training and guidance can provide anyone with a great career.”

“The market is changing, with advances in technology and the advent of AI the brokers’ sales process is forever improving and streamlining.

“With open banking increasing in popularity, this provides another means to improve the quality of business that crosses a broker’s desk and also assists in the fight to combat fraud.”

HUMAN TOUCH

And he added: “There is however still no replacement for the human touch, especially when it comes to checking the quality of a case.

“Increased regulatory expectations and lender analytics means it is even more important for a firm to ensure the highest quality not only in customer service but also in documenting the sales process and advice given.”

Attempts have been made to contact Allan Currie.