Approved Finance Group has appointed Andrew Johnson, former professional footballer, as its director of real estate finance within its Approved Property Finance division.
Approved Property Finance advises on specialist finance including commercial, bridging, development loans and buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages.
Johnson was previously a striker for the Fulham, Crystal Palace, Everton, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers football teams.
He played for England in 2005 during the team’s tour of America, where it won 2-1 in a friendly. Johnson also represented the country in the 2008 Euro qualifier against Israel.
He is currently an investor at business consultancy Stelaris Group, and the head of sport and entertainment at Band Advisory Group. Johnson is also a director of football at AFC Croydon Athletic and an ambassador for Crystal Palace Football Club.
Johnson ready to ‘make waves’ in financial services
Johnson said: “I am thrilled to have joined the talented team at Approved Property Finance. Having closely collaborated with them as a director on the Approved Tax board, I am eager to contribute to a motivated young business, making waves in the financial services space.
“The company’s innovative approach and commitment to excellence is inspiring, and I’m excited to bring both my connections in sport and finance experience to help drive our collective success.”
He added: “I am deeply committed to driving positive change in both the business and sporting worlds, ensuring that communities thrive as a result. Throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand how sports can unite and uplift communities, and I believe the same principles apply to business.
“By fostering strong relationships and pursuing innovative financial solutions, we can create opportunities that benefit not just our clients, but local economies too.”
Laurie Baugh, managing director of Approved Property Finance, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Andrew Johnson to our team. His experience and passion align perfectly with our goals for growth, and his unique background in professional sports and finance offers a rare and valuable perspective. Andrew’s leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding our real estate finance division to new heights, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact he will undoubtedly have.”
Rory Dunn, founder of Approved Finance Group, said: “Andrew joining signifies a key advancement for the Approved Finance Group. With his experience and proven success in the property space, we are confident that his joining will be pivotal in driving our future expansion. Andrew’s dedication to excellence and his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes make him an ideal fit for our team. We can’t wait to leverage his insights and experience to enhance our service offerings and achieve our ambitious growth targets.”
Shekina is the deputy editor at Mortgage Solutions and commercial editor at Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions. She has nearly eight years of experience in the B2B publishing market, having previously covered the hospitality, retail, pet, accounting and jewellery sectors.
Shekina has worked for Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions for almost five years. Here, she covers the market’s breaking news stories, engages with professionals in the sector, and oversees any commercially agreed content in partnership with mortgage-related companies.
This includes presenting webinars and hosting roundtable discussions on developing themes in the mortgage sector.
She is an NCTJ-trained journalist and was nominated for the Headline Money Awards Mortgage Journalist of the Year in 2021.
In her spare time, Shekina likes to read, travel, listen to music and socialise with friends.
She currently reports on current events in the mortgage market and liaises with financial clients to produce sponsored content.
Follow her on Twitter at @ShekinaMS