Appointment comes as lender seeks to boost sustainable lending
Santander UK has announced the appointment of Ben Merritt as head of mortgage trading.
Merritt will report to David Morris, head of homes, and will lead execution of Santander’s mortgage strategy, with a focus on sustainable lending growth and oversight of trading performance across the mortgage portfolio.
The appointment follows Merritt’s 15-year tenure in the mortgage industry, most recently as director of mortgages at Yorkshire Building Society, where he served for four years. He previously held the position of executive director at Accord.
In his new role, Merritt’s priorities include developing the lender’s retention strategy, strengthening customer relationships, and supporting long-term portfolio value.
“I’m excited to bring my experience from the past 15 years to Santander and find ways we can develop its mortgage offering for its new and existing customer base,” Merritt said. “The moves Santander has made in the last year have not gone unnoticed.”
Morris welcomed the appointment, highlighting Merritt’s broad industry experience.
“I am delighted to welcome Ben to the team. He brings a huge amount of experience, most recently at Yorkshire Building Society where he covered both intermediary and direct brands,” Morris said.
The announcement comes as Santander UK strengthens its mortgage market position. The bank recently updated its Broker Pledges and launched My First Mortgage, becoming a lender that can support customers with deposits above 95%.
“We have even more ambitious plans for the rest of the year, and I know Ben’s expertise will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our mortgage proposition and deliver clear value for our broker partners and customers,” Morris added.
In a LinkedIn post announcing his departure from Yorkshire Building Society, Merritt reflected on leaving the organisation.
“It’s never an easy decision to leave an organisation that has given me so many opportunities, experiences, and friendships. I’m hugely grateful for the trust placed in me over the years and for the chance to help shape the mortgage proposition during such an important period for the market,” he said.
“That said, the opportunity at Santander was one I simply couldn’t pass up. It’s an exciting time to be joining such an ambitious and growing business, with a clear commitment to innovation and customer outcomes.”
