UK Finance has announced the appointment of Miguel Sard, Santander’s managing director of mortgages, as the new chair of its mortgages product and service board.

The board brings together senior industry figures to discuss key issues facing the sector. Sard (pictured) replaces Peter Hill, CEO of Leeds Building Society, who led the Council of Mortgage Lenders for two years including during its merger with five other trade associations to form UK Finance.

Stephen Jones, CEO of UK Finance, said: “Our Mortgages Product and Service Board has a packed agenda for this year, including the Government’s Housing Strategy and the response to the FCA Market Study. We are fortunate to have an industry figure as influential as Miguel at its helm. Miguel brings a wealth of experience to this role that will be crucial in helping us deliver for our members and their customers. I am grateful to Peter Hill, who Miguel succeeds, for his invaluable role in ensuring the mortgages agenda is at the heart of UK Finance’s activities. Peter will continue to serve as a Board Director of UK Finance.”

Sard added: “The UK Finance Mortgages Product and Service Board plays a key role for the industry. I am delighted to have been appointed as chair and look forward to working to support, define and deliver positive results for customers across the UK.”