Tandem Bank has announced the planned early retirement of Nigel Brookes, Director of Second Charge Sales and Distribution, after more than ten years with the business, during which the bank strengthened its position in the specialist second charge mortgage market.
Stepping into the role of Head of Sales and Distribution, Laura Walters will now lead the department after 13 years with Tandem. Having worked closely with Nigel Brookes and Managing Director of Mortgages Steve Beard, she takes over at a time when the second charge market continues to expand.
Brookes played a major role in building Tandem’s second charge proposition and helping shape its broker relationships. One of the key milestones during his tenure was the launch of Tandem Connect, the bank’s next-generation broker platform, which reduced case processing times by 4.5 working days and improved both broker and customer experience.
The leadership transition comes as the second charge market records strong momentum, with new agreements rising by more than 27% year-on-year across 2025 and 2026.
Steve Beard thanked Brookes for his contribution to the business and said Walters brings the leadership, market expertise, and partner understanding needed for the next stage of growth. Walters said her focus will be on delivering faster decisions, smoother journeys, and a more efficient experience for brokers.
The move signals continuity for Tandem as it looks to build on its technology platform and capture further growth in the second charge lending market.