Shawbrook Bank has announced the promotion of Stuart Kelly to director of lending at its commercial mortgages division.

Kelly (pictured) now has overall responsibility for the lending activity of the business, including both credit and operational matters. He was previously head of lending and credit at the bank.

The bank says his promotion is in recognition of the increased responsibility he has assumed since the bank launched in 2011. He recently reviewed and redrafted the short term loan credit policy guidelines and in his team he has grown the number of mandated lending managers from three to 15.

Hr said: “I’m immensely proud to be taking on this important role and look forward to working even more closely with my colleagues in the lending team in the coming months.

“We are constantly striving to provide an excellent service to our intermediaries as well as lending prudently and I couldn’t ask for a harder working team to help achieve those goals.”

Stephen Johnson, managing director of commercial mortgages at Shawbrook Bank, said: “This is very much deserved recognition for the increased responsibility and work Stuart has taken on as the commercial mortgages business has grown so rapidly.

“The year has already had a strong start and we look forward to this continuing in 2014 under Stuart’s leadership.”