Specialist lender, Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB), has announced two senior appointments.

Alex Upton becomes managing director, specialist mortgages and will be succeeded as managing director, development finance by Neil Leitch who is currently commercial director of that division. HTB’s bridging division continues under the leadership of director, Jamie Jolly.

Upton is one of HTB’s most seasoned leaders, having joined the bank in 2018. During her tenure as leader of the development finance division, Alex recruited over 40 specialists whilst winning several awards.

Commenting on the appointment Upton (pictured) said she was excited by the new opportunity: “I am proud to leave the development finance division in great shape – the new team is brimming with talent and capability.

“But I’m thrilled to be swapping my comfy steel toecaps for my blister inducing heels as I return to my roots in specialist mortgages to take HTB’s biggest business to the next level. Close broker relationships and consistent, first-class service are the foundations of the division’s current and future strategy. No change there.”

Leitch, the new leader of the development finance business, is a widely recognised and established figure within the market with decades of experience behind him.