Just Mortgages has confirmed the appointment of Michele King, who brings more than 30 years’ experience across learning and development, talent management and strategic planning within the financial services sector.

Throughout her career, King (pictured) has designed and delivered learning solutions, academies, training programmes and apprenticeship schemes, supporting colleagues at every stage of their careers.

She has a strong track record in developing managers and senior leaders, while enabling colleagues across large organisations to reach their full potential.

King began her career in financial services as a mortgage adviser before moving into training. She spent the majority of her career at Countrywide, initially joining the learning and development function as a senior training officer. This included retraining around 1,000 team members ahead of the introduction of mortgage regulation.

In May 2007, she moved into the estate agency division as head of management development, before later becoming a leadership development consultant, delivering a leaders programme for future business leaders.

In 2018, King was appointed head of learning and development, leading a team responsible for training and developing more than 3,000 employees across sales, management and leadership.

Most recently, she held the role of head of curriculum delivery at Simply Academy, where she developed and managed the firm’s apprenticeship programme.

In her new role at Just Mortgages, King will work with the learning and development team to build on its existing proposition. Her remit includes supporting advisers and managers across employed, self-employed, new build and Just Wealth divisions, as well as overseeing the Just Learning proposition, academy programme, inductions and the ongoing professional development of existing colleagues.

She will also lead the implementation of a new management leadership programme.

King said: “It’s clear that the L&D team and proposition at Just Mortgages has been hugely successful and with big ambitions, there are exciting times ahead.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to take the tremendous work that has been done so far and really build on it, adding my expertise and fresh set of eyes to help expand it to best support our colleagues and the wider business.

“I’m keen to engage with all stakeholders to bring L&D and the wider business closer together – making sure we are one seamless business where everyone plays an active role, everyone shares the same high standard and all colleagues feel supported to succeed.

“I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in, working across the entire proposition and in all areas of the business to realise the full potential of this successful team, while identifying and adding fantastic new talent.”

John Phillips, chief executive officer of Just Mortgages and Spicerhaart, added: “Our L&D team and proposition has long been an integral part of our success.

“Not only has our academy created some of our most successful advisers, but the ongoing training, mentoring and development has ensured colleagues continue to set the standard for quality advice and customer care.

“Above all, it enables us to offer a platform where regardless of your position, you have the opportunity to fulfil your full potential.

“I am thrilled to appoint Michele as our new head of L&D, someone who comes with huge amounts of experience and a real track record of creating pathways, developing colleagues and nurturing future leaders.

“She will be a tremendous asset as we look to execute our ambitious growth strategy for the entire business, leveraging the incredible success of our L&D team and our company-wide proposition.”