LendInvest has grown its buy-to-let team with a number of in-house and field based hires.

The new team has grown to 15 people since LendInvest’s buy-to-let product was launched in November 2017, through a combination of internal moves and external hires.

Chief among the lender’s external hires is Antonia Pike, who joins the team from Fleet Mortgages as buy-to-let team leader. With over six years’ experience in the mortgage industry, she has worked in a range of roles from mortgage advising to underwriting.

Pike will be working closely with the team to monitor cases, ensuring underwriting is maintained at the highest standard, and working with management to develop and improve lending policy.

LendInvest has also hired field-based business development manager, Shane Wallace, to cover the East of England. He has over 10 years’ experience in the specialist lending market and joins the team from Aldermore, where he was most recently employed as a commercial mortgage manager.

Mark Foley, who has been promoted internally from an underwriting role to a field-based BDM, is now covering the Midlands. He has spent almost four years at the company before making this move.

Wallace and Foley join LendInvest’s growing team of field-based BDMs operating outside of London in response to increased demand for its buy-to-let product across the country.

Ian Boden, sales director at LendInvest, said: “As the appetite for our product continues to grow, these hires put us firmly in the position to carry on providing the first-rate service we pride ourselves on. It’s all about bringing in the best people to do the job, who have the expertise we need to hit the ground running.

“Further growth for the team is certainly on the cards, as we work alongside other teams within the business to fine-tune and improve the application process to perfect the overall proposition for our brokers and borrowers.”

Pike added: “The energy and enthusiasm around the office at LendInvest for the launch of the buy-to-let product was the key driver in my move to the company.

“It’s an exciting time to be leading such a rapidly expanding team, and a great opportunity to shape, and drive this product in what is proving to be a very receptive market.”