Lendinvest

LendInvest is a UK-based alternative asset manager and property finance platform, originating and managing mortgages and short-term lending for professional landlords, developers and homeowners. The Group operates a dual-engine model, combining balance sheet lending with a capital-light strategy that deploys third-party institutional funding, enabling scale while increasing recurring fee-based income.

In FY25, the business delivered record lending of £1.23bn and increased Net Operating Income to £38.6m. Fee income expanded as assets under management for institutional partners increased, reflecting progress in shifting towards a more capital-efficient model. Interest income also grew strongly, supported by improved funding terms and disciplined deployment into higher-return lending segments.

2025 marked a return to profitability, following a period of market disruption and strategic recalibration. Adjusted EBITDA turned positive at £3.2m, with loss before tax reduced to £(1.2)m. This improvement was driven by stronger income, tighter pricing discipline and a more efficient operating model.
Operationally, the business focused on cost control and efficiency. Total operating expenses reduced year-on-year, supported by lower headcount, reduced real estate costs and continued investment in technology and automation. These changes improved operating leverage, allowing the platform to scale lending and income without proportional cost increases.
Technology remains central to the strategy, enhancing speed, accuracy and customer experience while supporting scalability. The Group continues to invest in digital underwriting and platform capabilities to improve conversion and service.

Strategically, LendInvest is focused on expanding third-party funds under management and deepening institutional relationships to drive stable, recurring income. With a more efficient model and improved performance, the business is positioned for continued growth and profitability.

LendInvest plc was founded to address inefficiencies in the UK property finance market, where traditional lenders often underserve professional landlords, developers and other specialist borrowers. The company was created to provide a faster, more flexible and technology-enabled alternative, combining credit expertise with a digital platform.

From the outset, LendInvest built a vertically integrated model to originate, underwrite and service loans efficiently, while connecting borrowers with institutional capital. Early growth was driven by balance sheet lending across Buy-to-Let, bridging and development finance, establishing the platform in specialist segments.

As the business scaled, it developed a capital markets capability, enabling access to funding through separate accounts, forward flow agreements and securitisations. This supported a shift towards a more capital-light model, with increasing focus on fee-based income from managing third-party assets.

The company listed on AIM, providing capital to support growth and investment in technology and operations. As market conditions became more challenging, the business undertook a period of recalibration, focusing on cost discipline, pricing and efficiency.

By FY25, this approach had strengthened the business. LendInvest delivered record lending, increased income and returned to profitability in the second half. This reflected a more balanced income mix, improved operating leverage and a leaner cost base, supported by continued investment in technology.

Today, LendInvest operates a scalable platform combining lending and asset management. Its dual-engine model allows it to originate assets efficiently while deploying both balance sheet and third-party capital, generating income from interest and fees.

With a more capital-efficient model and improved performance, the business is positioned to scale, grow recurring income and deliver sustainable growth.

Christian Faes

Co-Founder & Non-Executive Chair

Christian comes from a legal background having practised as a real estate lawyer in Australia at Allens Arthur Robinson, and then in the UK with Clifford Chance and Deutsche Bank. In 2008, Christian co-founded the business with Ian Thomas, initially seeing an opportunity in the short-term mortgage market.

He served as CEO of LendInvest until January 2020.

Christian has been actively involved in the fintech sector as founder of the Fintech Founders group, a member of the government’s Fintech Delivery Panel, the City of London’s Fintech Strategy group, and an advisor to the Department of International Trade’s Telecoms and Technology Trade Advisory Group.

Christian is now CEO of Faes & Co, which is a firm that actively builds and invests in technology-enabled direct lending businesses.

Stephan Wilcke

Senior Independent Director

Stephan Wilcke currently chairs Bima, the leading mobile delivered health and insurance provider in emerging markets and serves on the boards of Hamburg Commercial Bank and Equiom. He is a former Executive Chair of OneSavings Bank and has also served on the boards of Amigo, Azimut, Independer, Farmafactoring, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Hellenic Financial Stabilty Fund, Nova Lubjanska Bank, TBC Bank Pic and Travelex. In his executive career he served as CEO of HM Treasury’s Asset Protection Agency, was a partner at Apax Partners responsible for Financial Services in Europe and started his career at Oliver Wyman where he progressed to partner level. Stephan is an active early stage investor and has been an advisor to the business since 2016.

Stephan chairs the Remuneration and Nomination Committees, and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Maeve Byrne

Independent Non-Executive Director

Maeve is an accomplished financial services professional who brings over 30 years of experience to her new role. She has held key leadership positions at respected institutions like RBS and KPMG and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at Alpha FMC. Maeve’s expertise in governance and financial oversight will be instrumental as she steps into the roles of Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, contributing her insight to the Company’s strategic goals.

Maeve has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. Maeve is also a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Rod Lockhart

Chief Executive Officer

Rod joined LendInvest in 2015 to lead the business’ Capital Markets and Fund Management division. Within that time Rod has overseen LendInvest’s AUM grow from £100m to £1.8bn and managed the launch of its listed Retail bond and RMBS programmes. Rod became Chief Executive Officer of LendInvest in January 2020.

Rod is a Chartered Surveyor with 17 years’ experience in property and property finance. He was previously Senior Director and a board member of the Investment Advisory Committee for CBRE. There, as well as advising LendInvest on its Real Estate Opportunity Fund, he advised UK and global institutional clients and managed a range of property and property debt portfolios.

Rod is passionate about property, alternative finance and prop-tech. He has lectured on property finance at the University of Reading and regularly advocates for the sector at conferences globally.

Ian Thomas

Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer

A qualified chartered surveyor, Ian has many years’ experience of property valuation, mixed-use development and investment acquisitions in both the UK and abroad, previously holding senior positions at Ballymore and SEGRO. Ian co-founded the business with Christian in 2008, during the global financial crisis.

Ian oversees all investment strategy and decision-making at LendInvest. He is a regular speaker at property industry events, a member of the MIPIM PropTech Advisory Committee and an active investor in several PropTech startups.

Stephen Shipley

Chief Financial Officer

Stephen Shipley is a seasoned Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience in the financial services industry. He has a strong background in financial management, reporting, planning, and analysis, having held significant roles at Barclays for over 23 years. During his tenure at Barclays, Stephen served as MD, Treasury CFO, and Head of Group Business Performance.

In his most recent role, Stephen was the CFO at Foundation Home Loans, where he managed capital markets and credit risk analytics, contributing to the company’s financial stability and growth. His expertise includes developing and implementing key systems and process changes.

Hugo Davies

Chief Capital Officer

Hugo began his career at Goldman Sachs, working within Treasury. During his time at Goldman Sachs, Hugo was responsible for the funding and liquidity management of mortgage portfolio sales, accelerated book-builds, debt offerings and SPV capitalisations. Hugo also managed liquidity risk for G10 & emerging market currencies, developing strong relationships in FX & money markets.Hugo joined LendInvest in 2016 within the Capital Markets division. Hugo leads equity and debt capital raising for the business and manages our large investor relationships. Hugo was responsible for the design and delivery of our listed bond programme, and oversaw the capital raising for both our launches into Buy-to-Let and regulated lending.

Peter Wallis

Chief Technology Officer

Peter is an enterprise architect by trade, having started his career consulting for Retail and Government clients at Accenture and Cap Gemini. This led onto a successful period at Camelot building and re-launching the £1 billion+ digital National Lottery business to 11 million customers, before becoming CTO at ETX Capital, a CFD and spread trading business, and then CTO at Sporting Group.

Peter joined LendInvest in Sept 2021 and grew the product and technology team by 67% to deliver the technology to support specialist residential mortgages and re-platform the BTL business. Peter holds a Masters in Engineering Science from Oxford University.

Daniel O’Conner

Chief Operating Officer

Daniel joined LendInvest in 2023 to lead the scaling of Operations before expanding responsibilities in April 2024 becoming Chief Operating Officer.

Daniel has over 17 years of experience in Financial Services across Banking and Fintech, specialising in Risk Management & Assurance at the beginning of his career at RBS Group, MUFG & CYBG. Daniel led the integration of Group Operations during CYBG’s acquisition of Virgin Money and went on to lead the transformation of Operations at scale.

Leanne Ardron

Director of Bridging

Leanne has worked in the specialist finance industry for 15 years. She has experience working in a variety of roles within the mortgage sector including legals, broking and property investment. She was the third employee at LendInvest and has seen it grow considerably since joining in 2012. Leanne has been involved in structuring a number of complex transactions and delivering a variety of key milestones for the business.

As Director of Bridging, Leanne is responsible for overseeing LendInvest’s bridging proposition from start to finish with a mandate to grow the short term lending business.

Daniel Underwood

Chief Credit Risk Officer

Daniel is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ of experience in Financial Services across UK Banking, FinTech, and Specialist Lending.

Daniel spent 18 years with National Australia Group Europe, starting his career in mortgages and retail banking, prior to a senior role in restructuring and recoveries, focusing on residential and commercial property enforcement, insolvency, litigation, and loss mitigation. Prior to joining LendInvest Daniel also spent 2 years with Funding Circle UK, holding a senior role in Property Development underwriting.

Daniel joined LendInvest in 2017 and is responsible for LendInvest’s credit policy, large loan and development finance underwriting, portfolio risk, quality assurance, and complex recoveries.