Octane Capital has made two new hires.

Shrena Patel has started as senior business development manager, reporting into managing director, Mark Posniak.

Prior to Octane, Shrena worked as a business development manager at Shawbrook Bank and, before that, as a corporate relationship director at Santander.

Meanwhile, Chris Harrison has joined as senior credit manager, reporting into Matt Smith, director of credit and risk.

Harrison joins Octane from West One Loans, where he was a senior lending underwriter. Prior to that he worked at The Loans Engine as an Underwriter.

Patel said: “I’m really excited to be part of a company that’s growing rapidly and doing something completely unique. Having worked at a challenger bank, I see Octane as a challenger to the challengers.

“What really appealed to me is how Octane aren’t a tick-the-box lender, but play each application as they see it and go out of their way to find solutions, which is what brokers value most.”

Harrison added: “Everyone in the industry respects what Jon, Mark and Matt have achieved over the years and I clearly leapt at the chance to work with them and help drive Octane forward. The team here is more experienced than any I have worked in and thrives in the kind of climate we now find ourselves in. This is a special company and I am excited to be part of it as it continues to grow.”