Legal & General has announced the formation of Legal & General Mortgage Services, set up to align its established Legal & General Mortgage Club and Legal & General Surveying Services, alongside a newly created business strand: Legal & General Technology.

Kevin Roberts will lead the team in his new role as managing director of Legal & General Mortgage Services and this new business area will operate as a key part of Legal & General’s wider Retail division.

In light of Kevin Robert’s new overarching responsibilities, Clare Beardmore has been appointed director of Legal & General Mortgage Club, the UK’s largest mortgage club. In her new role, Beardmore will be responsible for the growth of the mortgage club and will continue to support the broker community in line with her previous remit.

Legal & General provides mortgage research technology through its SmartrFit, technology which is used by advisers both within and external to its Mortgage Club. Technology will be a core strand of the Mortgage Services business and will be headed up by Jodie White, who retains her title as head of product and transformation, as the business separates its tech offering from Mortgage Club and widens its scope.

White will be responsible for building on the success of Legal & General’s SmartrFit tool and leading the next stage in the company’s journey in the mortgage research market. The new business area will focus on digital tools that directly support intermediaries and lenders across the market.

Roberts said: “The market continues to move at a rapid pace, and it’s important that we update our internal structures to meet these challenges and provide the best support we can to consumers, advisers, and lenders alike. Creating this new team allows us to draw on the wide range of experience and assets we have at Legal & General. I am proud to be leading this new business, combining our joint expertise and bringing together these three key focus areas, each of which plays a vital role in the mortgage journey.

“I’d like to congratulate Clare Beardmore on her new role and I’m excited to work with Jodie and the broader LGSS management team to deliver on our ambitious plans. I have no doubt that the team will rise to the challenge and I’m looking forward to working with them to develop something truly new and exciting for the business, our customers, and partners.”