LendInvest, the UK’s platform for property finance, has recently announced key leadership appointments to accelerate its strategic objectives and solidify its position as a preeminent alternative finance provider.
The company, known for its technology-driven lending platform, has appointed John Eastgate as its first Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and promoted Leanne Ardron and Steve Larkin to Managing Directors of Short-Term Lending and Development Finance, respectively.
These moves signal LendInvest’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, driving lending growth, and meeting the evolving needs of borrowers and brokers in the UK property market.
On June 26, 2025, LendInvest announced the appointment of John Eastgate as its inaugural Chief Commercial Officer, a newly created role designed to spearhead the company’s strategic growth initiatives.
Eastgate brings over 30 years of experience in the financial services sector, with a proven track record of leadership in specialist lending.
His previous roles include Chief Commercial Officer at Redwood Bank, Managing Director of Property Finance at Shawbrook Bank, and senior positions at OSB Group, Saffron Building Society, and The Nottingham Building Society.
In his new role, Eastgate will lead LendInvest’s commercial function, focusing on optimizing the company’s product mix to ensure competitive and differentiated offerings that align with borrower needs.
He will also prioritize deepening broker relationships, boosting customer retention, and managing acquisition costs to enhance marketing efficiency and long-term value.
A key aspect of his mandate involves leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to streamline underwriting and servicing workflows, reducing decision-to-drawdown times.
This aligns with LendInvest’s reputation as a fintech enabler, having been the first UK fintech to securitize a portfolio of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in 2019.
Rod Lockhart, CEO of LendInvest, expressed enthusiasm about Eastgate’s appointment, stating:
“John’s expertise will be crucial in accelerating our strategic objectives of lending growth, enhancing our operational efficiency, and driving our profitability. His leadership will impact our product mix, deepen broker relationships, and leverage innovations in AI and data to streamline our operations.”
Eastgate himself noted the opportunity as one he “could not pass up,” citing his experience navigating challenging market dynamics and growth opportunities as key to supporting LendInvest’s ambitions.
In a complementary move, LendInvest announced on April 28, 2025, the promotion of Leanne Ardron and Steve Larkin to Managing Directors of Short-Term Lending and Development Finance, respectively.
These appointments underscore the critical role of bridging loans and development finance in LendInvest’s growth strategy, particularly in supporting small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) property developers across the UK.
Leanne Ardron, who has been with LendInvest since its inception in 2013, brings extensive experience in bridging finance.
Previously Director of Operations and Director of Bridging Finance, Ardron will now oversee regulated and unregulated bridging loans and bridge-to-let products.
Reflecting on her 13-year tenure, she emphasized the importance of bridging loans as LendInvest’s “bread and butter” and her commitment to supporting customers in a fast-paced lending environment.
Steve Larkin, who joined LendInvest in 2015, will lead the Development Finance division, focusing on funding for SME property developers.
With nearly a decade at LendInvest and prior experience at Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, Larkin is positioned to drive the company’s efforts in addressing the UK’s housing shortage.
He highlighted the sector’s potential to deliver high-quality homes, stating:
“Our sector has a massive opportunity to play an integral part in building houses for the future.”
Rod Lockhart acknowledged both appointments, noting:
“Bridging loans are a critical financial tool, empowering thousands of SME property developers to drive the UK’s delivery of high-quality homes.”
He emphasized Ardron’s and Larkin’s roles in accelerating lending and returning LendInvest to profitability.
These leadership changes come at a pivotal time for LendInvest, which has lent over £3 billion in short-term, development, and BTL mortgages since 2008.
With recent funding agreements, including a £1.5 billion deal with JP Morgan and a £250 million facility from Societe Generale, LendInvest is prepared to expand its digital mortgage offerings.
The appointments of Eastgate, Ardron, and Larkin reflect a strategic focus on innovation, customer-centric propositions, thus positioning LendInvest to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the UK property market while driving sustainable growth.
