Mortgage switching platform Dashly has appointed former investment banker Salma Kalisvaart as its chief operating officer (COO) and ex-Connells and Countrywide director Iain Swatton as its head of intermediaries.
Following 13 years at JPMorgan in its M&A and ECM divisions, Kalisvaart followed Dashly’s chair, Mike Harris at Monument Partners, where she co-created the investment strategy to underpin a fintech-focussed venture fund.
More recently she spearheaded an accelerated roll-up strategy for financial ecommerce companies at the private equity fund Aquiline Capital.
She said: “For years, the financial services industry was not fit for purpose, but for consumers, fintech has been a game changer.
“Dashly’s admirable commitment to make the mortgage market work better for everyone involved, its bright and inclusive team, and potential to be highly scalable were immediate differentiators and is perfectly aligned with my passion for businesses with purpose, that seek to do good in the world.”
Swatton leaves Connells Group as sales director. He spent over two decades at Countrywide Plc, latterly as its financial services director.
He said: “Having been on the client side, my interactions with Dashly’s platform demonstrated not only its deep understanding of buyers and existing mortgage holders, but also the firms that operate within the market.
“Human advice is more important than ever in the age of big tech and comparison sites, and Dashly has become a vital ingredient for any brokerage serious about retaining existing customers and nurturing new business opportunities, while maintaining their own values and identity.”
Ross Boyd, CEO of Dashly, added: “We’ve always been confident that our business model works – but in welcoming Salma and Iain to the team, we have the backing of two highly-respected individuals from the worlds of fintech and mortgages.
“Their expertise will allow us to grow at pace, and further realise our ambition to combine the very best of people and technology to make mortgages work for all.”
