Hilco Real Estate Finance (HREF) has appointed Jamie Jolly as managing director for the Midlands, North, and Scotland, as the lender looks to expand its UK presence.
Jolly (picturef), who previously led the bridging division at Hampshire Trust Bank for nearly three years, brings over two decades of specialist lending experience to HREF. His career began in 2001 at Blemain Group — later rebranded as Together — where he spent 14 years, culminating in his leadership of the commercial lending division.
HREF chief investment officer Max Lewis highlighted Jolly’s expertise as a key asset to the firm’s growth. “Jamie was the ideal partner to join us at a crucial time for HREF, as we expand our presence outside London, where we have been based to build our early market share in the specialist bridge lending market.”
Lewis also emphasised Jolly’s deep industry knowledge, adding, “His entire career has been in bridging and specialist lending, and Jamie has led some of the highest-growth businesses in the industry for the last decade. We’re excited to have him join our growing team.”
Jolly expressed enthusiasm for his new role, citing HREF’s rapid growth and entrepreneurial approach as key factors in his decision. “I’ve been watching HREF’s early progress with interest, and from a standing start two years ago, they’ve already gained significant traction. The entrepreneurial team they have been building was the key to attracting me to join the business.”
He also noted HREF’s strong financial backing and commercial mindset as differentiators in the lending space. “In a market where deals can be tough to get over the line with some lender models, it was an appealing opportunity to join a lender that is incredibly well capitalised and commercially minded when it comes to reviewing lending opportunities.”
Jolly’s regional base will play a crucial role in HREF’s strategy to expand its footprint beyond London. “HREF has a clear strategy to grow regionally in the coming years, and from my base in the North, I am well positioned to help drive this growth. The team has been doing an increasing number of deals with developers and brokers across the UK and Ireland, but we know there is still vast untapped potential.”
He added that HREF’s pragmatic approach allows the lender to fund deals that may be overlooked by others. “We focus on deals that make sense, even if they involve unusual or challenging structures and assets. Our direct, flexible approach sets us apart in the market.”
