Stonebridge had announced that Gavin Earnshaw will join the network on 1 June as its new operations director.

He has over 35 years’ experience in financial services having held previous operations and compliance leadership roles in a number of mortgage firms including Pink Homeloans, HLP and Sesame.

He will lead Stonebridge’s strategy to deliver operational efficiencies across the group and help it scale the business to achieve further substantial growth.

Earnshaw (pictured, left) will report into Stonebridge chief executive, Rob Clifford (pictured, right).

Clifford said: “We are very pleased to be announcing Gavin’s appointment to the Stonebridge team from next month, and given his experience and expertise are confident he will be a major asset to the business and our member firms.

“Stonebridge has grown significantly in recent years, and part of the reason for that growth, is the investment we have made in bringing quality people into the business, at our Nottingham and Basildon offices or field-based, to support our ARs. Gavin certainly fits that bill having been immersed in the network sector for many years. We’re looking forward to working with him to help deliver on our ambitions for the future.”

Earnshaw added: “In this market, you can’t help but be aware of Stonebridge and how it has developed. I’ve watched from ‘over the fence’, so to speak, in my previous roles and to now be able to join the team is a real privilege.

“A growing network brings with it challenges and I’m looking forward to supporting the SMT, all my new colleagues, and our network firms, to help meet them, and to help develop and evolve ‘best in class’ services to our AR firms, that will ensure we maintain the excellent standing Stonebridge has in the mortgage community.”