United Trust Bank has hired Paula Purdy as head of sales – bridging finance, taking up her post immediately.  

Purdy will be responsible for managing the bank’s business development and key account managers — Paul Delmonte, Nick Warren, Craig Taylor and Jack Heath.   

She will also work with director of bridging Sundeep Patel, the newly appointed head of regulated bridging underwriting Becky Kidby and the bank’s soon-to-be-announced head of unregulated bridging underwriting.  

Veteran Purdy’s most recent post was at Together as head of intermediary sales, north division.  

She has also held roles at other lenders such as Shawbrook Bank and Octopus Property in a career that spans almost 20 years.   

UTB says Purdy “has a broad range of experience in the specialist property finance industry with extensive knowledge of bridging, residential and commercial real estate finance and buy to let,” adding that she is “a well-known figure in specialist finance”.  

The senior management appointment comes as the bank continues to restructure its bridging underwriting function into two teams — one managing regulated bridging applications, and one managing unregulated bridging applications.   

UTB director of bridging Sundeep Patel said: “She [Purdy] is joining UTB at a very exciting time with the restructure of the Bridging division into regulated and unregulated underwriting and case management functions set to transform the service we provide to brokers and customers and at the same time increase our capability to complete even more business.”  

UTB’s Purdy adds: “UTB are well respected in the bridging market, and I am proud to be able to play my part in their future growth plans.”