Preston based Key, the UK’s largest independent equity release broker, has strengthened its Estate Planning department with the creation of three new senior roles.
After an increase in demand, Key’s Estate Planning department has grown its management team to focus on developing this area of the business. The team is now structured around four core functions; Sales, Operations, Product Management and Business Development.
Neil Naismith has joined the company as Head of Sales, overseeing the front-end telephony and estate planner teams. Neil has a wealth of knowledge within the Estate Planning and financial services sectors, previously overseeing a field based team of 120 self-employed estate planners at Just Wills Group and building his own Will-writing business.
Appointed as Head of Operation, Melanie Wain, who has previously worked at Russell, Jones and Walker, will be oversee the delivery of will-drafting, customer services and administration. Along with optimising processes and procedures, Melanie will implement new product and service offerings to customers.
Having joined the business in March 2018, Nicole Porter has transitioned across from her role managing operations and been appointed Product Manager. This pivotal role will focus on launching new products, propositions, delivering system developments and new sales collateral which will help re-engineer the end-to-end customer journey. Nicole, Melanie and Neil will all report to Peter Julier (Director of Later Life Services, Key).
Peter Julier, Director of Later Life Services, Key said: “With the estate planning market growing rapidly it is essential that we have the right people in the right place, I am absolutely delighted that Neil is joining Key at such an exciting time for the business and very pleased that Melanie and Nicole have progressed within the company. With all bringing an extensive depth of knowledge of this sector, they will be great assets to our team and our customers.”
Will Hale, CEO, Key said: “With the demand for later life financial products growing rapidly, it is essential that we have the right people in place to ensure we evolve our Estate Planning proposition and offer a consistently high level of service to our customers. Mel, Neil and Nicole will all use their experience to help us continue to build our offering to customers beyond the later life lending market and I look forward to working with them.”
