Emma Smeaton has joined financial outsourcer HML to head up the development of its forecasting models.

After 10 years with Santander, where she worked in several areas within credit risk, including decision science, loss forecasting, provisioning, collections and recoveries, her remit is to develop predictive models that lenders in the mortgage and unsecured markets can use to inform their strategies for managing groups of borrowers.

The service will build on the predictive models used by HML’s existing clients to shape strategies for borrowers in arrears that have seen cash collected increase and provisions reduce.

“Working for a lender has given me a unique view on the value of analytical services. I’m looking forward to working with HML’s vast and granular mortgage data to build models that add value to existing partners and make other lenders want to work with us,” said Smeaton.

HML’s director of business intelligence, Damian Riley added: “Emma’s skills and risk expertise add a new dynamic to the team. We can provide her with access to the largest commercially available pool of mortgage data in the UK, which will lead to exciting new product developments.”