Fleet Mortgages has appointed Nicola Richardson as its new managing director.

Richardson (pictured) has been with the buy-to-let specialist lender since its launch in 2014 and has played a central role in building the business.

She initially joined as head of finance, establishing Fleet’s finance function, and has since held a number of senior roles including finance director, chief financial officer and, most recently, chief finance and operating officer.

Fleet said her appointment marked more than a decade of progression within the business, during which she had worked across multiple disciplines and helped shape its structure, proposition and long-term strategy.

Richardson has more than 14 years’ financial services experience. She qualified as a chartered accountant and holds the AMCT qualification, which she obtained during a treasury role at CHL Mortgages.

In her new role, Richardson will take responsibility for the overall leadership, performance and strategic direction of Fleet Mortgages.

She will oversee the lender’s core business areas, including underwriting, service and broker support, while leading further development of its proposition.

This will include continued investment in technology, refinement of lending criteria, product and pricing development, and further enhancement of Fleet’s service offering.

Richardson said: “I’m very pleased to be taking on the role of Managing Director at Fleet, having been part of the business since it was established nearly 12 years ago.

“Over that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a number of areas and help build Fleet into the strong position it holds today, which gives me a clear understanding of both how we operate and where I would like to take the business next.

“Our focus now is on continuing to evolve Fleet in a way that strengthens our proposition, supports our intermediary partners and meets the needs of landlord borrowers. That means investing further in our technology to improve efficiency and user experience, keeping our criteria and product range relevant and competitive, and maintaining a high-quality service proposition throughout the application process.

“We also remain focused on strengthening our teams, particularly in terms of the support we provide to brokers, recognising the key role they play in our success.

“By working closely together and maintaining a clear focus on delivering consistent outcomes, we believe we can continue to grow the business in a sustainable way while adapting to changing market conditions.

“I strongly believe the best results come from a collaborative approach, with clear goals and a shared commitment across the business. That will remain central to how we operate as we move into the next stage of Fleet’s development.

“I am fortunate to have a very supportive parent in Starling Group and an amazing team here; together we’ll be working to ensure Fleet continues to be a leader in the specialist buy-to-let lending space.”