Mortgage 1st has announced the appointment of Paul Lewis as head of growth.

The senior management position at the mortgage and protection adviser has been created to drive further expansion at the business which was established in 2008 and offers professional advice to clients throughout the UK.

Lewis (pictured) joins from equity loan provider Proportunity, where he was head of intermediary partnerships. He has also held senior roles as managing director of the mortgage club The Money Group (TMG) and as head of intermediary sales at Mansfield Building Society.

He said: “I have been fortunate to work closely with some impressive businesses across the mortgage industry during my career, and I know how highly Mortgage 1st is regarded.

“The business has already grown at an impressive rate, and is now looking ahead with ambition and vision. I am looking forward to helping Mortgage 1st achieve its goals for expansion while also enhancing its already impressive reputation.”

Jon Stones, Mortgage 1st founder and managing director, added: “Paul has extensive experience in the financial services sector, and he is ideally suited to this pivotal role as we seek to build upon the success of Mortgage 1st.

“The business has enjoyed impressive growth over the past decade, and we have exciting plans for the future. As part of this we will be recruiting new advisers, and Paul’s knowledge of the mortgage industry and the people working in it will be an important part of our recruitment process.”