Quilter has appointed Simon Durling as its new investment director. As part of the role, he will be responsible for promoting Quilter’s full range of investment propositions to advisers and external audiences. Durling brings over 35 years of industry experience across asset management and financial services to the role, having worked for firms including Santander Asset Management, St James’s Place and Barclays Bank. He most recently held the role of senior commercial strategist at Santander Asset Management, where he was responsible for improving investment and marketing content, while also taking an active role in investment risk, performance governance, adviser/client education, advice process and adviser training.

Bradley Illman has been promoted to the role of key account manager for London at United Trust Bank (UTB). He joined the firm in 2012 as an underwriter in the bridging division of and was instrumental in the creation of UTB’s bridging internal sales team. In his new role, Brand will be the day-to-day point of contact for London-based bridging introducers, meeting them regularly and employing his bridging knowledge to help brokers win and place deals and develop their bridging business. His experience in both internal sales and underwriting enables him to provide prompt lending decisions, insight on what UTB can do for borrowers and assist brokers when packaging and submitting complex cases which need to be progressed quickly.

Newcastle for Intermediaries has enhanced its large loan criteria and has introduced a refreshed range of products. The lender now offers products up to 85% LTV in order to provide more options to brokers and their clients, and has increased loan amounts on its range below 80% LTV. It has also raised the amount allowed for part and part mortgages up to 85%, and the maximum LTV on interest-only is 75%. As part of the refreshed range, Newcastle has launched two- and five-year fixes at 5.70% and 5.20% respectively, bot available at up to 85% LTV on loans between £500,000 and £1m.

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