Stonebridge, the national mortgage and protection network, has appointed Mark Bailey as its first Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Bailey, who joins from Board Intelligence where he was Engineering Director, has over the course of his career also built and ran engineering teams at Sainsbury’s Technology, led global fraud technology architecture at Barclays Bank, and led on both engineering and commercial strategy during his 11 years at Rightmove. His appointment as CTO at the network is further evidence of Stonebridge’s commitment to and investment in continuous development for the benefit of AR firms.
Cutting-edge technology has always been central to the network’s success and Bailey, as an integral member of the senior management team, will be overseeing the network’s wholly owned ‘Revolution’ software and the large team of inhouse developers who are based in Milton Keynes and Basildon.
Revolution is consistently singled out for praise by members who value the role it plays in driving their business’ pipeline, enhancing productivity, and supporting advisers in delivering exceptional service to their customers. Moreover, an increasing number of members are realising those benefits, as recent independent industry research shows that Stonebridge saw the largest number of ARs join the network in the first half of 2024. This is more than any other pure mortgage and protection network in the UK, evidencing the attractiveness of the Stonebridge technology and commercial propositions.
It is not just member numbers that the network is seeing grow. Bailey’s appointment is the latest in a number of high-profile additions to the team. The network is proving to be a magnet for industry talent – in the last six months it has attracted Stevie Berry and Oliver Couchman as National Recruitment Managers, and Daniel Darby as the network’s first Protection Account Manager.
Commenting on the latest senior appointment Rob Clifford, Chief Executive at Stonebridge, said: “Our culture, our focus on our member firms, and our strategic vision are proving to be strong draws not only for network members but for some of the best talent in their respective fields. Mark is too humble to blow his own trumpet, preferring instead to focus on ensuring others succeed, but his credentials, passion for continuously improving the customer experience, and achievements at the likes of Barclays and Rightmove are second to none. He is a real team player, and I am delighted that he is joining our ever-growing team of exceptional talent.”
Commenting on his move to Stonebridge, Bailey said: “I have long admired what Stonebridge has been doing, albeit from afar. The more I’ve got to see up close of the culture and of the team, the more that admiration has grown. Being able to be play a part in the network’s continuing growth story is a privilege.”
