Jayawardena was the MP for North East Hampshire for almost a decade, and previously served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

He was also minister for International Trade between May 2020 and September 2022 and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.

Before entering Parliament, Jayawardena worked for Lloyds Banking Group.

He has commercial experience covering pharmaceutical, construction, transport and leisure.

In his new role, Jayawardena will share his expertise and insights with Rosemount and provide strategic advice to help the network achieve its growth plans.

Rosemount Financial Solutions chief executive Ahmed Bawa says: “Being able to appoint someone of the calibre of Ranil is a huge testament to the performance of Rosemount to date.”

Jayawardena adds: “I am thrilled to be working with Rosemount. I’ve been incredibly impressed by the way that Ahmed and the rest of the senior management team have built the network, and the emphasis on bringing a ‘family’ feel for the Appointed Representatives.”