Accord Mortgages has appointed Kelly Stowell as regional sales manager for London, the South-East and Northern Ireland.

Stowell returns to Accord after three years with NatWest’s private banking division.

Having originally joined Accord as an underwriter in 1997, she was part of the team during the early years of the firm.

As regional sales manager, Stowell will provide support and development to her team, Accord said, as well as driving business growth and strengthening the Accord brand.

Stowell said: “Returning to the business where I started my mortgage career is a fantastic opportunity. Accord’s approach has always been about looking at people as individuals and working with brokers to find the best option for their customers. I’m looking forward to strengthening relationships across the region and helping brokers achieve great outcomes for the people they support.”

Accord Mortgages head of sales Chris Hill said: “Kelly’s extensive network of industry relationships and connections, combined with her deep understanding of Accord and all it stands for makes her a fantastic addition to the team.

“Kelly’s customer-first approach and knowledge of the intermediary market will be a real asset as we continue to strengthen support for our brokers across London, the South-East and Northern Ireland.”

Last week Knight Frank said that sales activity across prime London has picked up this year, with buyers increasingly choosing to negotiate on price rather than abandon deals.