Derek Simpson has joined SPF Private Clients’ real estate debt advisory team.

Simpson (pictured) previously headed up the structured real estate team at Santander, focusing on commercial real estate deals ranging from £20m to £100m.

Simpson is a banker with 20 years’ experience in the real estate sector. He has arranged finance in excess of £5bn over the past decade across most sectors including commercial investment/development, residential development, retail, hotel investment/development, data centres and light industrial/logistics.

In his new role, Simpson will report to David Yeadon, executive director and head of the real estate debt advisory team at SPF Private Clients.

Simpson said: “I am delighted to join a team which has an unrivalled reputation in the commercial space and is widely renowned as one of the best in the business. I am really excited to be working with such a dynamic team at a time of significant change for the industry as we adapt to living with a pandemic.”

Yeadon added: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Derek for 25 years and can vouch for his excellent track record. We are pleased he has chosen to join us, further strengthening the team and enabling us to take the business to the next level.

“Our commercial business has grown significantly, with the team arranging £1bn of funding last year. Despite difficult economic challenges for our clients and lenders’ changed appetites, our expertise and experience means we are well-positioned to continue to thrive as one of the country’s foremost debt advisory businesses.”