#MIMA24 Judges
Our panel of expert judges has been carefully hand-picked to ensure a broad mix of disciplines – and, with industry stalwarts from specialist lending to trade bodies, we're confident that our judges will be able to select the most worthy winners for each category. For more information about each of our judges, see their profiles below (more judges to be added soon).
Nick Allen
Director
Allenko Limited
Nick is a seasoned marketing strategist with a proven track record in the intermediary mortgage industry. As a former Marketing Director for a specialist mortgage lender, he played a pivotal role in co-creating the business in 2015.
With over two decades of experience in the intermediary mortgage market, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise who has a keen understanding of the unique needs and challenges within the industry. Nick's strategic insights, innovative marketing approaches, and dedication to excellence have earned him a reputation as a trusted leader and expert marketeer in the mortgage industry.
Jodie Andrews
Head of marketing
One Mortgage System
As the Head of Marketing for OMS, I am passionate about fostering innovation and excellence within our industry.
In today's rapidly evolving market landscape, where the pressure on marketing teams to generate new leads and navigate through challenges is immense, recognising and celebrating innovative marketers has never been more important.
My decision to judge the MIMAs stems from a strong belief in the power of creativity, strategic thinking, and evolving marketing practices.
Gemma Bone
Senior marketing manager
Finova
I am a dedicated marketing manager with a passion for all things digital with 7 years of experience in B2B financial services marketing, primarily in the UK mortgage market. I have a diverse background, having marketed for mortgage lenders ranging from specialist lenders to start-ups, as well as for tech providers.
Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in various areas of digital marketing, including website management, conversion optimisation, SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, data analysis and marketing automation. My proficiency in these areas allows me to develop and implement marketing strategies that align with business objectives effectively.
Ash Borland
Marketing & sales coach
Ash Borland Consulting
Ash Borland is a seasoned sales and marketing coach dedicated to empowering mortgage brokers through innovative personal branding and content marketing strategies.
With a background as a mortgage broker, Ash specialises in helping professionals elevate their visibility and impact in the industry. His unique coaching approach focuses on one-to-one accountability, social selling, and leveraging video content to foster authentic connections.
By combining cutting-edge marketing techniques with personalised support, Ash ensures his clients not only achieve their business goals but also build a sustainable, successful brand.
Leah Brunskill
head of marketing
Market Financial Solutions
Leah has over 14 years’ experience in Marketing and has worked in the short-term lending market for the last seven years. Since starting at Market Financial Solutions (MFS) back in 2019, Leah’s key focus has been on driving the marketing strategy to ensure MFS’ bespoke products are at the front and centre of the market’s mind.
Leah is dedicated to providing brokers with a platform that is dedicated to the industry's ongoing education, offering online articles that feature the latest market updates, research reports, and videos which break down the fundamentals of specialist finance. Furthermore, Leah applied her knowledge of the finance world by writing a section of the Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance (CPSP) qualification, a new certification to further cement the specialist finance market’s position within the broader lending scene.
Michael Craig
Managing director
Brilliant Solutions
As Managing Director here at Brilliant Solutions, I am passionate about delivering excellence to our brokers and clients.
My experience helps me navigate sometimes a very difficult landscape in the Mortgage Industry. With over 15 years experience in the industry I believe that you are truly at your best when you enjoy what you do and here at Brilliant Solutions we really enjoy helping and support everyone.
Lewis Dite
Marketing executive
Hodge
Hard to write this without massive imposter syndrome but I won the Rising Star award in 2023 so I can add some value here.
Worked in Marketing now for over 18 months at Hodge and it's moved at the speed of light. Always happy to chat, help anyone to be honest and share experience.
Katrina Hindley
Marketing director
TAB
Helping to judge the 2024 MIMAs is an opportunity I'm eager to take on. I believe it's crucial to recognise the vital role marketing plays in the mortgage industry. Marketing is often oversimplified and reduced to just social media efforts, but the reality is that it encompasses a wide array of strategic activities that drive business growth.
As a marketing professional myself, I've witnessed firsthand the hard work and dedication that marketing teams pour into their campaigns and initiatives. Too often, contributions go unnoticed or underappreciated, especially during challenging times when marketing is frequently one of the first functions to face cutbacks. This is a disservice to the invaluable role that marketing plays in shaping brand awareness, launching new products, and cultivating relationships with clients and partners. Recently, after conducting a marketing training session at TAB, several colleagues approached me with newfound appreciation for the breadth of responsibilities that fall under the marketing umbrella. Their comments reinforced my belief that marketers' efforts often fly under the radar, even within their own organisations.
By participating in the judging process for these awards, I can play a part in shedding light on the exceptional work being done by marketing teams across the industry. It sends a powerful message about the importance of marketing as a strategic function. If we can honour those marketers who are quietly moving their businesses forward, it will inspire and motivate others in the field to continue pushing boundaries. I would be proud to contribute my expertise and perspective as a judge for these awards.
Paul Hunt
Managing director
Square 1 Media
Paul has worked in marketing within the financial services and property sectors in a career spanning over 25 years. Since 2001, he has held Head of or Marketing Director roles in businesses like Platform (the intermediary lender of Co-op), Lehman Brothers and Countrywide and has managed both B2B and B2C. His experience includes relaunching Platform in 2003 following the merger with Verso, setting up a bids team at Countrywide to win multi million £ valuation contracts with lenders, acting as PR spokesperson, launching the largest PRS development in the North West of England and building a customer retention model for Countrywide’s financial services business.
A well known industry spokesperson, he has an extensive contact list across the mortgage industry.
Nick Joelson
Head of marketing
Landbay
Nick is a seasoned marketing strategist with a proven track record in the intermediary mortgage industry. As a former Marketing Director for a specialist mortgage lender, he played a pivotal role in co-creating the business in 2015.
With over two decades of experience in the intermediary mortgage market, Nick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise who has a keen understanding of the unique needs and challenges within the industry.
Nick's strategic insights, innovative marketing approaches, and dedication to excellence have earned him a reputation as a trusted leader and expert marketeer in the mortgage industry.
Caroline Maidment
Director & co-founder
Cloth Court Communications
Caroline has been involved in financial services marketing for many years and co-founded the specialist media agency, Cloth Court, in 1995. She is focused on making her clients’ jobs easier with clearly defined media strategies, creative media solutions and bespoke analysis of advertising results.
Cloth Court has the experience and breadth to cover all media including online, outdoor, transport and television, both B2B and direct to consumer. The mortgage and property market is a particular area of expertise with several high profile clients in this sector.
Caroline is serious about generating successful campaigns for her clients and also about making the process as enjoyable as possible.
Haley McPherson
Group marketing director
Enra Specialist Finance
Haley joined Enra Specialist Finance in 2020 as the Group Marketing Director to develop the corporate brand strategy, redefine market positioning, implement new marketing plans and build out the marketing team.
She is an experienced marketing director, strategist, and brand champion with over 15 years of marketing experience working in the IT, telecommunications, and financial services industry. She has a demonstrated history of executing global rebrands, redefining strategies for M&A and investment, building market leading teams and driving revenue from new marketing initiatives.
She is a 2-time winner of the MIMAs and actively champions new initiatives and development of marketing within the mortgage industry. As an advocate for ESG within the finance industry (and winner of last year’s D&I award) Haley launched and now chairs the firms ESG forum which now boasts 25 members driving positive change and culture across the Enra's ESG 5 pillars.
Katie Newell
Head of marketing
Foundation Home Loans
Katie Newell's team won the MIMA Marketing Team of the year in 2023. Katie has been in Mortgages and Marketing for 20 years, is the holder of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Distinguished Performance Award 2023, and is currently Head of Marketing for Foundation Home Loans.
Martin O’Callaghan
Head of marketing
HLPartership
Martin O'Callaghan brings a vast array of knowledge and leadership to his role as Head of Marketing at HLPartnership, where he is responsible for overseeing a wide range of marketing services offered to members. His duties extend beyond supporting lender marketing activities, such as coordinating and enhancing the effectiveness of events, to also include focusing on the strategic expansion of the HLPartnership network.
With a Master of Science in International Marketing, Martin demonstrates a profound commitment to ongoing learning and professional development. His expertise and innovative approach to marketing strategies have greatly contributed to the growth and success of HLPartnership's marketing endeavours, showcasing his extensive experience within the mortgage industry.
Dush Patel
Head of marketing
CHL Mortgages
Dush is an experienced B2C and B2B marketer who has worked at companies such as; British Gas, Amex, Aviva, RBS, and Fleet Mortgages. Recently, he played a key role in leading CHL Mortgages' rebranding efforts and developing a successful go-to-market strategy for their 2021 relaunch.
Jess Rushton
Head of business development
Smart Money People
At Smart Money People, the UK's most comprehensive financial services review site, she's the Head of Business Development. Jess’s journey in finance includes pivotal roles at an insolvency company and a growth capital investment firm before she joined Smart Money People in 2021.
The Mortgage Lender Benchmark, gathers valuable feedback from brokers and also helps Jess advocate effectively for brokers, ensuring their voices help shape the trust between mortgage lenders and their clients.
Liz Syms
Chief executive officer
Connect Mortgages
Chief Executive Officer and founder of Connect Mortgages and Connect for Intermediaries, Liz has been providing mortgage and financial advice for over 20 years. Liz and her team over of 50 staff arrange all types of mortgages and protection with a particular strength in the specialist markets.
In 2012 Liz set up the specialist mortgage network that now supports over 200 mortgage brokers who to operate not only in the mainstream market, but also provide advice in specialist areas such as complex buy-to-let, commercial and bridging.
Liz spends a large part of her time delivering training to brokers that focus on the brokers perspective of the market and the lender's criteria and requirements, and regularly writes articles that feature in the trade press.