New mortgage lender Generation Home (GenH) has announced the appointment of John Bridgman as head of credit.

Bridgman joins the business from Virgin Money, where he was head of mortgage credit.

He has over 15 years of experience in the industry, with specialism in credit portfolio management and analytics, as well as his ability to grow and manage large teams.

He started his career in the pharma industry before moving to HSBC where he covered various roles within credit covering analytics and portfolio management.

Bridgman will be reporting into CEO Will Rice and will work closely with the operations, data and underwriting teams. He will be responsible for credit processes and policy, as well working across the business and with GenH’s funding partners to further the company’s mission to create more homeowners.

Rice said: “John is a significant addition to the senior team. With his deep understanding of credit processes and risk management expertise, he is the perfect person to build on what we have achieved to date. We are really excited for him to join our growing team.”

Bridgman added: “I believe Generation Home has the potential to transform the housing market by delivering a mortgage experience that is truly built around the needs of the customer. With my skills and experience in credit, I am excited by the opportunity to play a formative role in this important element of the company’s growth.

“Credit risk plays a critical role in the home buying process, protecting the interests of both the lender and the customer. Done right, it can play a big part in solving first-time buyer affordability challenges.”