Masthaven Bank has promoted Rob Barnard to the newly-created role of director of intermediaries.

Barnard (pictured) will now be responsible for Masthaven’s sales division alongside Richard Deacon, Masthaven’s sales director for short-term lending, bringing all of Masthaven’s products under a single, unified sales function.

He joined Masthaven in September 2018 as sales director, responsible for the sales team handling Masthaven’s first and second charge residential and buy-to-let mortgage offerings. He will now also oversee the team responsible for all intermediary sales.

Prior to joining Masthaven, Barnard was sales director at Pepper Money and head of business development at Aldermore Bank.

Barnard said: “Masthaven has a great reputation in the short-term space and strategically it makes perfect sense for us to bring our long and short-term lending offerings closer together as a single sales team. Brokers want a joined-up sales team and that’s exactly what we’re offering.

“Many of our intermediary partners are interested in diversifying their businesses into the short-term lending market, so it’s a strategic growth area for us. Myself and Richard working together in an integrated sales team will make it easier for both smaller firms and major distributors to do business with Masthaven.”

Barnard’s promotion is part of a planned reshaping of Masthaven’s senior leadership team and follows the recent appointment of a new chief financial officer and executive director in Leigh Bartlett as well as Masthaven’s managing director Jon Hall who has been appointed to chief commercial officer (CCO) and deputy CEO of the bank.

Hall said: “Rob is an experienced sales team leader who has made a significant impact at the bank since he joined. Rob shares our vision for the future of Masthaven and Rob and Richard working together across our sales function for all types of lending will strength the Masthaven offering in the marketplace.”