Peer-to-peer lending platform CrowdProperty.com has announced the appointment of Mark Stephens as non-executive director.

Stephens was deputy chief executive and group commercial director at Aldermore Bank and has over 35 years’ experience in the banking and property lending industry.

He joins the board alongside Simon Zutshi, CEO and founder; Mike Bristow, co-founder and non-executive director and Andrew Hall, director and co-founder.

Zutshi said: “For Mark to join our team is testament to the journey we have been on so far, and a recognition of the opportunity that lies ahead. His experience of working in senior roles at global financial institutions will help us enormously as we manage the next phase of our growth. I am looking forward to Mark helping us make this business even more successful.”

Stephens added: “The growth of peer-to-peer lenders has been a welcome development in the UK’s financial services market and they offer an excellent and complementary alternative to conventional retail banks. I can’t wait to bring my experience in the banking world to the peer-to-peer market and CrowdProperty was the obvious choice from my perspective to realise this ambition.”