Crowdlender FundingKnight has appointed ex co-founding CEO of E*trade UK Julian Costley to its holding board.

He joins fellow directors Graeme Marshall, FundingKnight’s founder and CEO, and non-executive director Mash Patel.

Earlier in his career Costley worked at Thomson Reuters defining their equities product strategy in the lead up to ‘big bang’ before becoming an overseas country manager. He has also held positions within BSkyB, France Telecom, and BT.

Costly is also a mentor, course judge and visiting lecturer at London Business School and at Oxford University (Said Business School).

“We’re now rapidly up-scaling FundingKnight. Part of that process is expanding the depth of experience successful entrepreneurs like Julian bring, especially with his financial services and consumer marketing track record,” said Graeme Marshall, Chief executive.

“By combining Julian’s know-how with Mash Patel’s expertise in fast growth technology driven companies, I now have a top team that will help me accelerate our place in the peer-to-business market.”

Costley will also become a shareholder in FundingKnight. “This is exactly the type of company I love as the business idea is so clear and Graeme is so eminently backable,” he said.

“Businesses who need funds to grow can borrow money quickly, easily and at competitive rates, and our crowd sourced lenders get great rates of interest.

“I’ve joined FundingKnight because this company will make a very significant impact in this market and I want to play a part in getting us there.”