Karen Hedges has been hired by First Complete as its mortgage manager.

She will start the role on 1 October, which entails managing the mortgage desks of both First Complete and TMA.

Hedges, who left Openwork in August, will also work with David Copland and LSL’s lender partners to ensure lending strategy across the financial services business is aligned at group level. She will report to sales operations director Toni Smith.

She will spend time increasing broker expertise, writing broker communications, delivering a set of broker facing sales aids and presenting at regional workshops around the UK.

She will also help advisers directly by working with them to identify gaps and issues and working with them and the lenders to develop solutions.

“Karen is real catch and we are very fortunate to have her come to join the team at First Complete,” said Jon Round, chief executive of First Complete.

“She has extensive experience of the mortgage market and will be a real asset to First Complete, TMA and our adviser members.”

Hedges added: “I am really excited about working for a company that focuses purely on mortgages and protection, as that is where my experience and expertise lies. I aim to get to know First Complete’s key business writers and build up a close relationship with the product providers.

“My aim is to help First Complete grow the amount of mortgage business that it does, focusing not only on volume but continuing First Complete’s drive to make sure that the quality is there to back it up.”