Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has appointed Ellie Edington as lending support manager, strengthening its lender partnerships team as it seeks to improve mortgage and property valuation processes.

Edington joins from Westmarq, where she was lender relationship manager, having previously spent seven years at Legal & General in a succession of roles.

Her most recent position at Legal & General was lender account executive, supporting lender relationships across Legal & General Mortgage Club and Legal & General Surveying Services.

At MAB, she will help develop and deliver the group’s lending proposition, working with lenders and other industry stakeholders to address challenges in the mortgage and valuation process.

The appointment forms part of MAB’s investment in its dedicated lending team, which is responsible for developing strategic relationships with lenders and identifying opportunities to improve the homebuying process.

Rachel Geddes, strategic lender relationship director at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said: “We’re really excited to welcome Ellie to the team.

“MAB’s focus is on solidifying strategic partnerships with lenders, and growing the team enables us to look at how we can transform and progress the whole homebuying journey for clients.

“Ellie brings a distinct set of skills from her years at Legal & General Surveying Services. She really understands the valuation/survey process, and that will help us tackle the bigger challenges and projects the industry throws at us.

“All too often, we see transactions fall through because of the property, and we want to work out how we can reduce that in the market.”

Geddes added: “Our key ambition is for MAB to be the go-to partner for lenders, and to keep showing how we can drive the market forward.

“We wanted to be the first distributor with a large, committed lending team to support that, and Ellie’s appointment is a major step towards achieving this.”

Edington said: “I’m delighted to be joining MAB at such a pivotal time for the lending team. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with lenders on their valuation propositions, supporting them as they grow and adapt to change.

“I’m looking forward to using that experience to collaborate with MAB’s lender partners, drive innovation, and deliver a simpler, faster, and more transparent homebuying journey for customers.”