Hampshire Trust Bank’s managing director of specialist mortgages Alex Upton is taking over leadership of the lender’s bridging division on top of her current role.

The news follows the bank’s current director of bridging Jamie Jolly’s decision to step down and pursue other opportunities after first joining the bank in May 2022.

HTB says that Upton has driven significant growth in specialist lending and development finance.

It says that in her expanded role, Upton will help the lender to deliver more cohesive support across its divisions.

Jolly says: “Since joining the bank, I’ve had the privilege of working with an exceptional team to build HTB’s bridging offering into one of the most trusted in the market.

“Together, we’ve developed a strong proposition and delivered excellent results for brokers and their clients.

“With the bridging team in a great position and recent enhancements in place, the timing feels right for me to move on to new pastures.

“I’m excited to see HTB’s continued success under Alex’s leadership.”

Upton says: “Brokers will continue to benefit from quick decisions, expert advice, and the personalised service they’ve come to rely on.

“We’re committed to ensuring brokers maintain the familiar points of contact they value while creating stronger alignment across all our lending divisions.

“This expanded role isn’t about merging teams – it’s about having the oversight to dig deeper into each division and uncover new opportunities for growth.

“It’s about being more strategic, finding ways to offer more to our brokers and challenging ourselves to go further.”