Santander’s manging director for intermediaries is moving from the Spanish bank to NatWest, where he will take on the role of manging director of home buying and ownership.

Sard joined Santander in September 2007 and became director of mortgages in 2013 after a stint in the insurance division.

Between February 2018 and December of that year he chaired the UK Finance mortgage board, being replaced by the Bank of Ireland’s Richard Rowntree.

Santander head of retail and business banking Susan Allen comments: “I would like to thank Miguel for all his efforts over the last sixteen years with the group, and the last nine years in mortgages.

“He has helped us to deliver a consistently strong performance in mortgage lending and he leaves with our very best wishes.”

A NatWest spokesperson says: “We are looking forward to Miguel Sard joining the Home Buying and Ownership team in due course and welcome his expertise and experience in the sector.”