Specialist lender Hope Capital has hired Roz Cawood as director of sales.

Cawood joins from Masthaven Bank, and will be responsible for leading the sales team, devising strategies and will help introduce and manage new key accounts.

She leaves Masthaven Bank, where she was head of sales, after just under six years.

The bridging firm says Cawood’s appointment is part of its “expansion strategy following an extremely successful year, with significant growth in enquiries and completions over the last 12 months”.

Hope Capital director of sales Roz Cawood says she is joining the firm “during a time when there is such a huge demand for their innovative bridging finance products and as they are experiencing a surge in enquiries and completions”.

Earlier this month, the company launched a product revamp, which includes reducing its commercial rates from 0.90% to 0.80% per month.

At the same time is also launched its Capital Collection loans across residential, mixed-use and commercial property. These products lend up to £5m at up to 75% loan to value, with rates ranging from 0.79% to 0.82%.

Hope Capital, founded in 2011, offers loans on residential, mixed-use and commercial properties of up to £5m for up to 18 months.

The business lends against residential, retail, commercial and semi-commercial properties, as well as land.