Roma Finance has hired Kirsty Botten as business development manager for London and the southeast.

Botten joins from specialist finance broker Finspace, where she was a bridging and development broker for just over two years.

Before that, she spent almost two-and-a-half years as a bridging underwriting at Hertfordshire-based Only Bridging.

Roma says Botten’s bridging underwriting experience brings a strong understanding of case structuring to her new role at the specialist lender.

It adds Botten will be “responsible for developing relationships and supporting intermediaries to enable mutual growth”.

Roma Finance national sales manager Steve Smith says he is “thrilled” at the expansion of the new business team.

He adds: “The demand we are experiencing continues to climb and it is essential that we exceed our partner’s expectations every time.

“We are doing this by developing a knowledgeable and empowered team, enabling us to stick to our decisions and provide a slick and certain service throughout.”

Botten says: “With my brokering and underwriting background and the passion I have for the market, I am really eager to get started and develop the business.”

In April, Roma Finance and First 4 Bridging teamed up to launch a new semi-exclusive bridging product.

It is available at up to 75% LTV and charges 0.65% for up to 24 months. It also charges an arrangement fee of 1.85%. The product can be used for loans from £400,000 to £3m.