Cambridge & Counties Bank expands Midlands real estate team

Cambridge & Counties Bank has expanded its Midlands real estate team with two new senior hires.

Gary Shepherdson and Vaughan Hobbs join as senior relationship managers.

Gary has over 20 years’ experience working with property professionals and businesses across the East Midlands. Before joining Cambridge & Counties Bank he spent almost 10 years at Handelsbanken in a variety of roles, including corporate banking manager and credit analyst. He will be based in Cambridge & Counties’ Leicester office.

Based in Birmingham, Vaughan has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, specialising in the property sector since 2000. He has had various roles ranging from business development, portfolio management as well as restructuring at lenders including Lloyds, Santander and Nationwide.

Cambridge & Counties Bank recently announced it had seen total lending top £1 billion as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations in June this year.

Originally focused on the local East Midlands region served through one branch, the Leicester-headquartered bank has seen staff numbers increase to more than 200, with major offices now in Sheffield, Bristol, London and Glasgow. The addition of Gary and Vaughan means the bank now has 14 members of staff covering the Midlands region.

Jayne Follows, regional director for Midlands and South at Cambridge & Counties Bank, said: “We’re delighted to be adding Gary and Vaughan to our successful Midlands team. Both have extensive experience and a deep understanding of the needs of our clients and the brokers that support them. Midlands is a key growth market for the bank, and we will continue to invest in the local team.”