Buy-to-let (BTL) lender Molo Finance has appointed Matthew Kimber (pictured left) to the role of CEO following a “thorough and rigorous recruitment process”.
Kimber joined the BTL specialist in November as chief operating officer (COO), and prior to that he was at BTL lender CHL Mortgages for around eight years.
He joined CHL Mortgages in 2015 as head of operations, becoming COO in 2018 and then managing director in 2021.
Before that, Kimber was an underwriting manager at Castle Trust for more than a year and was also a specialist underwriter at Lloyds Banking Group for around half a year.
The lender said that Kimber “possesses a deep understanding of the UK origination market, making him a great strategic choice for Molo’s leadership team”.
Molo’s former co-founder and chief executive Francesca Carlesi stepped down from the role in November, with Andrew Chepul (pictured right), CEO of investor ColCap Financial, serving as interim executive chairman.
Since then, the lender has gone on to bring out non-residential BTL mortgages for non-UK residents, which it said will unlock “investment opportunities” for borrowers from around the world.
The firm is also including personal income in BTL affordability assessments and lowered its BTL stress rate in order to boost affordability for borrowers.
Chepul, chair of Molo, said: “We sought a CEO who not only understands the intricacies of our industry, but also embodies innovation and determination.
“The calibre of candidates in the recruitment process was impressive, and Matthew stood out amongst them. We believe his leadership will drive Molo in its next phase of growth, and maximise the company’s full potential.”
Kimber added: “Taking on the role as Molo’s CEO, at such a pivotal time, is a tremendous honour. The mortgage landscape is evolving rapidly, and Molo is at the forefront of that transformation.
“I am eager to lead the Molo team in delivering excellent mortgage products for our customers, pushing boundaries, and solidifying Molo’s position as a pioneer in the industry.”
Anna is a reporter for Mortgage Solutions and assistant editor for Specialist Lending Solutions, both B2B sister titles of YourMoney.com. She has worked as a journalist for over four years, initially in the specialty insurance sector before moving onto mortgages.
