Smart Money Loans (SML) has appointed Ian Cruickshank as its latest business development manager.

He is based in the North East of England.

Cruickshank joins SML’s growing sales team, which now covers London and the South East, Scotland, the North West and Central England. He has over 30 years experience in the second charge market having started his career with Beneficial Finance and became their youngest manager in 1980.

Further roles followed with Sensormatic Finance and The Mortgage Lender, based in Southampton. He also ran a secured loan packaging company, The Affinity Lending Company, based in the North East.

Paul Crewe, director of SML, said: “We believe passionately that brokers need a personal service and that is why we are investing in highly experienced professionals to take our message directly to intermediaries.

“Ian Cruickshank is particularly well suited to the role with his experience of secured loan lending as both a lender and a leading intermediary over many years. We are delighted he has agreed to work with us at SML.”

Cruickshank added: “Having lived and worked in the North East for many years, there is plenty of potential for a distributor like SML among the brokers I know.

“The secured loan market is entering a phase of sustainable growth and offers real benefits to intermediaries and their clients. I am looking forward to taking the Smart Money Loans’ message to as wide an audience as I can find.”