Skipton Building Society has announced the appointment of Simon Farrell-Roberts as head of mortgage lending.

Before joining Skipton, Farrell-Roberts held the position of head of performance and operations for the direct mortgage and protection business at Lloyds Banking Group .

Commenting on his appointment he said: “I was drawn to Skipton because of its genuine commitment to homeownership, particularly for first-time buyers. The society’s innovative products, partnerships, and approach to tackling real customer challenges reflect a culture of purpose that I admire,”

In his new role, Farrell-Roberts will lead Skipton’s mortgage lending team, guiding customers from application to the day they receive their keys. This includes improving the speed and efficiency of decision-making processes, utilising technology to streamline routine tasks, and allowing Skipton’s experts more time for personalised service.

Earlier this year lender Gen H hired Karen Appleton as head of lending.Appleton had been at Skipton Building Society for nine years, and was serving a head of lending prior to the Gen H move.