Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Nationwide appoints Richard Walker as head of intermediary sales as James Briffitt retires

Nationwide has appointed Richard Walker to its mortgage intermediaries leadership team, with James Briffitt, the lender's current head of intermediary sales and new build, set to retire after 20 years at the building society.

As head of intermediary sales, Walker will lead sales teams across Nationwide, working closely with brokers, and new-build sales will also fall under his remit.

Walker's background

Walker has more than 20 years of experience in the intermediary mortgage market. He joined Virgin Money in 2013 and held a number of senior leadership roles, most recently leading the intermediary sales teams for both Virgin Money and Clydesdale. Before that, he held leadership positions at Virgin One Account, First Active and RBS.

What the appointment means for brokers

Walker said he was delighted to be taking on the role at what he described as an important time for Nationwide, noting that brokers remain at the heart of the mortgage market and that he looked forward to deepening relationships with them and continuing to provide the support, expertise and service they need.

Damian Thompson, Nationwide's director of mortgage intermediaries and partnerships, said Walker was exceptionally well-placed to lead the intermediary sales teams and build on the lender's established relationships across the market, citing his deep industry knowledge, extensive leadership experience and strong understanding of the intermediary market.

Thompson said the appointment reflects the importance of the intermediary channel to Nationwide, and that he looked forward to working with Walker as the lender continues to develop its proposition and support brokers in meeting the needs of their customers.

Farewell to Briffitt

Thompson also thanked James Briffitt for his contribution to Nationwide's intermediary business, describing him as an integral part of the team who played an important role in strengthening relationships with brokers and shaping the intermediary proposition. Thompson said Briffitt's dedication, expertise and commitment had been greatly valued by colleagues and brokers alike as he begins a well-deserved retirement.

What it means for letting agents and inventory clerks

The appointment sits within Nationwide's mortgage intermediaries business, but changes at the top of a major lender's broker-facing sales operation can shape how buy-to-let and new-build lending propositions are communicated to the market. Letting agents and inventory clerks who work alongside brokers and landlords may see the effects of any shifts in lender-broker relationships as Walker takes up the role.