Tell us a bit about your career to date.

Having spent 37 years in financial services (20 in the mortgage sector), I’ve enjoyed a variety of roles, at RBS/NatWest/Ulster Bank, Aldermore, Newcastle Building Society, Iress, Finova and now Fignum.

It’s been a continual learning journey for me. I was proud to be part of the RBS/NatWest growth story, which certainly had tumultuous times! Helping to build and grow a new challenger bank was exciting, and working in the mutual sector offered a truly fulfilling sense of purpose.

Making the move into mortgage fintech has been a new experience. It has taken me out of my comfort zone and continues to stretch me as the market harnesses technological change and evolution.

What is the main premise of your role?

I’m responsible for growing our new-client base across our core areas of sales, origination and servicing software for lenders.

We have a real partnership mentality where we build long-term win-win solutions rather than short-term transactional relationships

I’m predominantly the external face of Fignum, building relationships with lenders, consultancies and key third-party stakeholders across the value chain.

Although relatively new to the sector, Origin and Adapt, our origination and servicing platforms respectively, are supporting lenders’ growth ambitions and momentum is positive.

Fignum was created to tackle the challenges posed by outdated legacy technology. How far has this industry come in terms of investing in or accepting new tech and driving efficiency?

Some lenders have invested and are realising efficiencies. However, many continue to lag behind. While most acknowledge the need for change, the key is undertaking transformation successfully and ensuring benefits are delivered on time and on budget.

Follow up, follow up, follow up. If you commit to something… do it

I have seen extensive adoption of technology such as automated valuation models and digital signatures, and I expect the likes of Pexa, LMS and others to drive positive changes further into the homebuying journey. The real enabler for success will be ensuring core orchestration platforms can seamlessly plug into these new services and keep pace with market innovation.

What is Fignum’s USP?

Our ‘secret sauce’ is a combination of platforms and people.

Origin and Adapt have been designed to be flexible from the ground up, with speed of change and automation flexibility being key success factors. This enables personalisation without the historical challenges of bespoke builds.

New tech exists that could provide a safe, secure, single source of identity, but market adoption appears a way off

From a people perspective, we have a real partnership mentality where we build long-term win-win solutions rather than short-term transactional relationships. This is coupled with a team who have true expertise and understand both UK lending processes and the technology.

Combining both gives a fast, flexible and future-proof solution coupled with a ‘trusted partner’ mentality.

What was your reason for entering the industry? What other career path might you have chosen?

My dad worked for RBS for 41 years and I followed him into the banking sector. Thankfully he retired before the ‘excitement’ of the credit crunch!

I’m predominantly the external face of Fignum, building relationships with lenders, consultancies and key third-party stakeholders across the value chain

If I hadn’t built a career in financial services, I would have loved to follow my passion for cooking.

What’s the best piece of business advice you have ever received?

Follow up, follow up, follow up. If you commit to something… do it.

You have more than 20 years’ experience across the industry. What are the biggest challenges the sector has faced over this time?

The 2008 downturn, the global pandemic, rate volatility, the cost-of-living crisis, ongoing regulatory change and the continual desire for a frictionless mortgage journey have all challenged the sector.

It’s been a continual learning journey for me

If you could change just one thing in the mortgage market, what would it be?

The need for customers to provide identification on multiple occasions across the housebuying and mortgage application process. New tech exists that could provide a safe, secure, single source of identity, but market adoption appears a way off.

This article featured in the November 2025 edition of Mortgage Strategy.

If you would like to subscribe to the monthly print or digital magazine, please click here.