Brightstar has appointed a business development manager for London in Christina Smith.

Smith, who was a business manager for Barclays, has 13 years in financial services after starting as a sales assistant at John Charcol before moving to the Hamptons International estate agency chain.

Clive Willson, business development director at Brightstar, said: “Brightstar is seeing rapid growth, not only in the quality of the individuals employed, but also in the choice of the diverse mortgage products it can provide for mortgage intermediaries in the specialist lending market.

“Christina will be a great addition to the team as she is well experienced in the mortgage market as both a mortgage broker and a banker. She really understands the needs of the mortgage broker having been one herself for many years and I’m sure her vast experience will add value to all those that she deals with.”

Smith said: “I understand that while most mortgage brokers are excellent at their day to day job, they sometimes find it more challenging when faced with non-standard lending, be it an unusual property, a second charge loan, credit problems, the need for a bridging loan or even commercial finance.

“These are the times when it can be really useful to have someone to call on for some help and support.

“My job at Brightstar will be to build relationships with advisers, so that they have always got someone to contact to keep them informed about alternative options that may best help their clients.”