Albatross puts co-founders at heart of new principal-led deal teams

Albatross Lending Group has restructured its deal team around its two co-founders, in a move designed to give brokers earlier access to the people making lending decisions.

The team now works in two pods, one led by co-founder Lewis Casserley and the other by co-founder Jordan Fearnley-Brown. Each pod brings together business development managers, deal processors and a dedicated underwriter, with the principals working directly alongside the people assessing and progressing cases.

What changes for brokers

Albatross says the structure will give brokers earlier access to decision-makers, a clearer picture of the lender's appetite, and faster conditional offers that are backed by credit from the start.

It also marks a shift for the founders themselves. After a period focused on building the group's infrastructure, funding relationships and team, both will now take a more active role in day-to-day origination.

Keeping the founder-led feel

Casserley said that when the business started, brokers dealt directly with the people making lending decisions, and keeping that access as the lender grows has been a priority. The pod structure, he said, puts it at the centre of how the deal teams work, with a principal, an underwriter and the case team working closely together.

A competitive rate matters, but so does knowing who is making the decision.

He added that brokers also want clarity on the conditions attached to an offer and confidence that the lender can deliver.

A busy period of growth

The restructure is the latest step in a run of changes at Albatross. The lender recently launched its Commercial Suite, reshaped its refurbishment range into eight products and moved its headquarters from Soho to 33 Creechurch Lane in the City of London, where it will host a broker open afternoon on 5 November.

Albatross says two further finance divisions will launch in the coming weeks.