Chetwood Financial, the digital bank behind the soon-to-launch ModaMortgages, has hired Julian Hynd as chief operating officer.  

The Wrexham-based lender, founded in 2016, says Hynd will be responsible for implementing the bank’s strategies including working on the launch of its broker-only buy-to-let lender ModaMortgages “later this year”.      

Hynd has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, and has “a strong record of building, growing, and transforming businesses”.  

He left Redwood Bank in November, after 18 months at the lender where, as chief operating officer, his post included responsibility for corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, lending strategy and product development.  

Prior to that, he worked for almost three years at Shawbrook Bank, where he was also chief operating officer.  

In a seasoned career, Hynd has worked at First Rand, Siemens Southern Africa, National Savings & Investments, and Ford Credit Europe, where he led the development of Ford Money, a UK online savings bank.   

He also worked for Volkswagen Financial Services, where he led the development of its UK online savings bank.  

Chetwood Financial founder and chief executive Andy Mielczarek says: “He [Hynd] joins at a dynamic time for Chetwood, with exciting projects in the pipeline for the coming year, not least the launch of ModaMortgages.

“Julian’s experience and expertise when it comes to operations in the financial spaces will no doubt prove extremely valuable in helping Chetwood achieve its ambitious plans for 2024 and beyond.”  

Hynd adds: “The company’s goal is to deliver exceptional products and services to help people financially – and it’s one I wholeheartedly believe in.   

“I’m excited to play my part in ensuring we achieve that goal from an operations perspective.”