The Mortgage Lender has appointed Paula Priest, a former sales and relationship manager with Barclays Bank and Nationwide, as its head of sales.

She will be responsible for The Mortgage Lender’s team of key account managers and establishing close relationships with networks, distributors and mortgage clubs.

She has over 26 years’ financial services experience including being part of the launch team for The Mortgage Works and building the Portman/Nationwide’s business development team.

The lender is set to launch its intermediary-only proposition in the coming weeks.

Priest said: “I am passionate about delivering exceptional broker service. The Mortgage Lender will put the personal touch back into the relationship between lender and broker by being accessible, honest and fair. The broker is our customer and I feel lenders forget they have a choice where they place their business.

“We aim to create partnerships with brokers by being innovative in our offering and simplistic in the way that brokers interact and get a decision from us.”

Pete Thomson, The Mortgage Lender’s sales and marketing director, added: “Paula has invaluable sector experience. Her passion for delivering customer service and investing in building strong relationships with distributors, networks and clubs mirrors our own.

“We’re delighted to announce her appointment and are looking forward to launching The Mortgage Lender to market in the coming weeks.”