Octane Capital boosts team with double hire

Shrena Patel has started as a senior business development manager while Chris Harrison has joined as a senior credit manager.

Prior to Octane, Shrena worked as a BDM at Shawbrook Bank and, before that, as a corporate relationship director at Santander.

Chris Harrison joins Octane from West One Loans, where he was a senior lending underwriter. Prior to that, he worked at The Loans Engine as an underwriter.

Shrena Patel commented: “I’m really excited to be part of a company that’s growing rapidly and doing something completely unique. Having worked at a challenger bank, I see Octane as a challenger to the challengers. What really appealed to me is how Octane aren’t a tick-the-box lender, but play each application as they see it and go out of their way to find solutions, which is what brokers value most.”

Chris Harrison said: “Everyone in the industry respects what Jon, Mark and Matt have achieved over the years and I clearly leapt at the chance to work with them and help drive Octane forward. The team here is more experienced than any I have worked in and thrives in the kind of climate we now find ourselves in. This is a special company and I am excited to be part of it as it continues to grow.”

Matt Smith, director of credit and risk, added: “Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we have set ourselves big goals for 2020 and growing our sales and credit teams is vital for us to achieve them. Shrena has a huge amount of experience and strong relationships with countless introducers, while Chris is one of the most sophisticated credit managers in the market. I’ve got no doubt that both will hit the ground running and prove invaluable members of the team.”