Tandem appoints Walters as Brookes retires from second charge role. Published on 6 May 2026 Tandem Bank has appointed Laura Walters as head of sales and distribution following the planned early retirement of Nigel Brookes. Brookes, who was director of second charge sales and distribution, leaves after more than a decade with the Blackpool-based challenger bank. During that period, Tandem said he played a central role in building its position in the specialist second charge mortgage market. Walters (pictured) has worked with Brookes and Steve Beard, managing director of mortgages, during her 13 years with the bank. Tandem said her experience in the second charge market, broker relationships and contribution to the business made her the natural successor. She will continue to work closely with Beard as Tandem looks to grow its second charge business. The bank said one of the main developments during Brookes' time with the business was the launch last year of Tandem Connect, its broker platform. Tandem said the platform automated key stages of the loan process and reduced case processing times by 4.5 working days. The lender said the leadership change comes as the second charge market continues to grow, with new agreements rising by more than 27% year-on-year through 2025 and 2026. Beard said: "On behalf of everyone at Tandem, I'd like to thank Nigel for his huge contribution over the past decade. He has played a central role in building its second charge proposition into what it is today and in shaping its relationships across the broker community. "A planned early retirement is thoroughly well deserved and we wish him all the very best for what comes next." "I'm delighted to see Laura step into this role. She brings strong leadership, deep expertise and a clear understanding of both its strategy and its partners. "The second charge market is growing and we're growing with it - with a strong team in place, a clear plan and the technology to back it up." Walters said: "I'm excited to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for Tandem and the second charge market. Mortgage Soup has built strong foundations through great tech, strong relationships and real delivery. "My focus now is on accelerating that. For brokers, that means faster decisions, smoother journeys and a partner that's easy to do business with. The opportunity here is massive and we're well placed to make the most of it."

Tandem Bank has appointed Stephen Jones as its new chair as the digital bank pursues future growth. Jones, currently executive chair of investment banking at Panmure Liberum, brings decades of UK banking leadership experience, including senior roles at Santander and Barclays, and served as inaugural chief executive of UK Finance. Jones replaces Paul Pester, who held the position for three years during which Tandem achieved and maintained profitability. Pester also appointed current chief executive Neil Chandler in 2025. Chandler thanked Pester for his contributions and said Tandem is positioned to accelerate growth in 2026 with its experienced board and leadership team.

Tandem Bank named among UK's Best Workplaces(TM) 2026. Tandem was officially named on the prestigious list at the UK's Best Workplaces Awards held at Grosvenor House in London. Tandem Bank, the Blackpool headquartered challenger bank, has been recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces(TM) 2026 by Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture. The news follows Tandem's inclusion in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list in 2024 and 2025. Tandem was officially named on the prestigious list at the UK's Best Workplaces Awards held at Grosvenor House in London. The bank, which employs over 500 people across its headquarters in Blackpool and offices in Durham, Cardiff and London, made the list for the first time, ranked 99th in the Large Companies category. This places it among the top employers in the country and among just seven that made the list in the North West. The recognition is based largely on confidential employee feedback, highlighting the bank's commitment to building a supportive and people-focused workplace culture in the heart of Blackpool's growing digital and financial services sector. The bank's culture is shaped by inclusivity, learning and employee voice, with campaigns, groups and initiatives spanning from Women in Leadership and Pride, to Neurodivergence and Black History Month. A People Council, an employee-led forum, also drives ESG and social impact initiatives. Charity work, health and wellbeing and incentives to support colleagues who reflect Tandem's sustainability focus are also core elements of the colleague experience. Catherine Diamond, Chief People Officer, said: "Being recognised in Great Places to Work for the first time is an achievement that we're very proud of. This means that the work we're doing to build an inclusive and positive culture really is reaching our colleagues and they're seeing it every day. Whilst there is always more that we can do, creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to do their best work is fundamental to our success." The UK's Best Workplaces list is compiled using detailed analysis of employee feedback through the Trust Index(TM) survey, alongside an evaluation of each organisation's workplace culture and leadership practices. Only companies achieving the highest overall scores are included. March 9, 2026 Tandem Bank appoints Stephen Jones as new Chair, signalling next stage in growth journey. Stephen Jones has been appointed Chair of Tandem to lead the bank in its next stage of growth.