Darlington Building Society has appointed Rebecca Russell as digital business development manager for Wales and the South West.
Russell (pictured) took up the role at the start of January and reports to head of intermediaries Chris Blewitt, working alongside James Travers, the mutual’s first digital BDM.
She has spent more than 13 years at Darlington Building Society, joining originally as a mortgage adviser before moving into a data-led role within the business development team last year on secondment.
During that period, Russell analysed market trends, broker enquiries and feedback, working closely with marketing and product teams to refine criteria and improve borrower outcomes. Her performance in the role led to her promotion to digital BDM.
Darlington said it continues to invest in its intermediary proposition, having lent more than £240m gross in mortgages in the last financial year.
The society has set out plans to grow further in the broker market, supported by its service-led approach and specialist lending, including foreign currency mortgages, limited company buy-to-let, self-build and lending to professionals such as foreign national healthcare contractors.
Russell said: “This role for me is all about collaboration and partnerships built on trust, shared knowledge and open feedback.
“Coming from a mortgage adviser role within Darlington, my principles very much lie with being accessible, supportive and working together on a solution-based approach with the client at the centre.
“This gives me a real opportunity to continue learning from the industry and getting to know the people behind the businesses and I am very excited about the years ahead.”
Blewitt added: “Due to the success of her secondment, but also her clear ability to build relationships and support brokers, it was felt Rebecca should be moved into a permanent role as a digital BDM, building on the success of this role undertaken by James in the South East.
“Geographically we are underweight in terms of business from firms in Wales and the South West, so this felt like the right focus for this new role.
“Our aim is to significantly grow those relationships this year and beyond, while giving firms a dedicated point of contact and underlining our commitment to the intermediary sector.”
