Paula Purdy, head of sales at Shawbrook Bank, is to leave the lender after eight years in order to pursue other opportunities.

Purdy said: “I’ve loved my time at Shawbrook and working with brokers for so long has been immensely rewarding given what we have managed to accomplish in this space.

“I’m hugely proud of what I have managed to achieve over the years with a great team alongside me and I look forward to the next chapter.”

Jeremy Law, managing director of Shawbrook’s residential mortgages division, said: “Paula is one of the longest serving members of the team and has made the decision to move on to fresh challenges after taking some time off. I would like to thank her for being such an integral part of the business and wish her all the best for the future.”

Meanwhile, Matthew Batte joins as a business development manager (BDM) to support the residential sales team. He spent 10 years in sales, underwriting and management with First Trust Finance and Optimum Credit.

Batte said: “I am looking forward to further developing and supporting existing relationships and being part of a strong team who value their broker partners. I feel it’s a great opportunity to use my knowledge of the market having spent over 10 years as a broker.”

Law added: “As well as a comprehensive understanding of the market, Matthew has great broker-side experience that we believe will be a huge asset to the residential business, and I look forward to his contribution.”