The Intermediary has appointed Brian West as interim sales director as part of its ongoing growth and expansion plans.
West brings extensive experience in intermediary-focused property finance, having held senior roles across bridging, development finance, second charge lending, and commercial finance. Most recently, he was head of sales at Kuflink, and previously held the same role at Saxon Trust, where he played a key role in broker engagement and expanding lending operations.
His career also includes positions at Pivot Finance, Funding 365, Shawbrook Bank, GE Money, and iGroup. West has served as a director of the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL), now the Bridging and Development Lenders Association (BDLA).
Speaking about his appointment, West said: “I’ve known Ryan and the Intermediary team for many years and I’m delighted to have already played a small part in their phenomenal success story.
“The launch of The Intermediary coincided with my time at Saxon Trust and we seized the opportunity to advertise on the new site, committing to a one-year contract at our first meeting.
“We knew the pedigree of the team and, working together, we both enjoyed tremendous growth in that first year. Now I’m really excited by the opportunity of playing a direct role in the continued expansion and success of the group, and hopefully learning some new tricks along the way!”
Ryan Fowler, managing director at Astor Media, said: “Brian has a proven track record across lenders, built over many years. He understands the needs of both lenders and brokers and how to bridge the gap between them.
“As a publication, we have always focused on delivering the best quality content and service to both. As we move into our next phase of expansion, it is more important than ever to deepen our understanding of what both markets need.
“Bringing in someone with Brian’s expertise is the best way to do that. I’m delighted to be working with Brian, who I’ve known for years and who was one of the very first advertisers on The Intermediary. His experience will be invaluable in strengthening our proposition.”
In his new role, West will be responsible for shaping The Intermediary’s commercial strategy and further enhancing its relationships with lenders and brokers.