Funding Circle has appointed James Lovett as business development manager.

Lovett has joined from Close Asset Finance after three years working with asset finance brokers.

He also spent three years at Arkle Finance (formerly Weatherby’s Finance).

Lovett joins Laura Kinghorn and Stuart Pedersen in the team led by Laura McMullen, Funding Circle’s business development director.

McMullen said: “We continue to strengthen our commitment to the intermediary market and I am particularly pleased to welcome James to the development team. We are focusing considerable resources to build relationships with the intermediary market.

“Evidence already tells us cases introduced by professional advisers are invariably of good quality and are well researched and prepared. This helps us to reach decisions faster and ultimately lend to more businesses needing finance.”

Lovett said: “I am delighted to be joining Funding Circle and look forward to the challenge of taking forward this exciting new concept in commercial lending to the broker market.”