LendInvest Mortgages has announced the promotions of Leanne Ardron to Managing Director of Short-Term lending and Steve Larkin to Managing Director of Development Finance.
Prior to their titles of Managing Director, Ardron and Larkin served as Head of Bridging and Head of Development Finance, respectively.
As the BDLA loan books surpassed £10 billion in 2024, and a continued focus on new housing, Ardron and Larkin will oversee LendInvest’s growth in both areas, including regulated and unregulated Bridging loans, Bridge-to-Let loans, and development finance that covers a wide range of projects from new build-schemes, refurbishments and conversions.
Ardron has been with LendInvest since the company’s inception in 2013, and has had previous roles as Director of Operations and Sales Director for Bridging, Development and BTLs, and most recently Head of Bridging, a position that included a seat on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
Larkin joined LendInvest in 2015 and has been managing the firm’s existing portfolio as well as leading the financing of development projects across England, Wales and Scotland. His new role as Managing Director for Development Finance also includes a seat on the company’s SLT.
Leanne Ardron, Managing Director of Short-Term Lending, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to take on the title of Managing Director for Short-Term Lending at LendInvest. This promotion comes at a special time for me, as it coincides with celebrating my 13th year at the company.
"Bridging loans have always been LendInvest’s ‘bread and butter,’ and in a time where more property investors are seeing the value in short-term lending, I look forward to leading the charge when it comes to supporting our customers through our product propositions and ensuring that our processes keep up with today’s fast-paced lending environment.”
Steve Larkin, Managing Director for Development Finance, said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to Managing Director of Development Finance and to be joining the Senior Leadership Team at LendInvest.
Our sector has a massive opportunity to play an integral part in building houses for the future and LendInvest can play it's own part in allocating important funding to SME property developers. I’m also looking forward to helping drive the strategic direction of the wider business as we continue to move ahead with our own plans across our various lending platforms".
Commenting on both promotions, Rod Lockhart, CEO at LendInvest, says: “Bridging loans are a critical financial tool, empowering thousands of SME property developers across the country to drive the UK's delivery of high-quality homes — enabling them to move quickly to secure opportunities and retrofit existing properties. The appointment of Leanne as Managing Director for Bridging recognises not only her unrivalled experience and leadership in this sector, but also the pivotal role bridging finance will play in LendInvest’s future as we pivot back to profitability and accelerate our lending.
"In parallel with the UK Government’s renewed commitment to new housing, we see significant growth potential for our Development Finance products. To support this, we have promoted Steve to Managing Director of Development and welcomed him to our Senior Leadership Team alongside Leanne. Steve’s deep expertise in property development will be instrumental as we continue to expand our offering and strengthen our position as a leading lender in this space.”
