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Meet the Team

Delivering for our partners and clients can only be achieved through working together as one team. Below are some of the people supporting you at Brilliant Solutions. Get in touch. Click on any Brilliant team member to obtain their contact details.

Management

Matthew Arena

Group Managing Director
M: 07808 922383

An entrepreneur that enjoys working with brokers and lenders alike. A big advocate of tech & good consumer advice.

Matt loves Italian food, sport and comedy. He tells us he cycles in his spare time… He has 3 children but Brilliant is his 4th!

Michael Craig

Managing Director
M: 07912 581123

Our relationship with brokers is second to none thanks to Michael’s dedication. Only Brilliant will do, giving us an edge when building relationships. He is experienced & focused on creating opportunities.

When time allows, Michael enjoys his time with his wife & 3 children or watching football, supporting the Mighty Reds (Nottingham Forest).

Sally Miles

Director of Lending
M: 07983 437629

A mortgage expert focusing on lender relationships and service levels. Sally has worked in mortgages with lenders & intermediaries and in the prime, specialist and commercial areas.

Sally’s spare time is spent at home with family or at the Norfolk coast. She supports her local primary school and is a true chocoholic.

Sonny Gosai

Bridging and Commercial Director
M: 07930 931733

Sonny has worked in the Specialist Finance industry for close to 25 years. His experience working for companies from a standing start and making firms into respected and successful companies is his forte. He loves building and maintaining strong relationships with lenders and intermediaries. He is loving the challenge of taking our Bridging and Commercial distribution to the next level.

Sonny is a family man and dotes on his three sons. He enjoys a BBQ more than most and a cheeky vodka. Ask him and he will show you some of his famous BBQ pictures. Liverpool FC is his passion. YNWA!!!

Management

Matthew Arena

Group Managing Director
M: 07808 922383

An entrepreneur that enjoys working with brokers and lenders alike. A big advocate of tech & good consumer advice.

Matt loves Italian food, sport and comedy. He tells us he cycles in his spare time… He has 3 children but Brilliant is his 4th!

Michael Craig

Managing Director
M: 07912 581123

When time allows, Michael enjoys his time with his wife & 3 children or watching football, supporting the Mighty Reds (Nottingham Forest).

Sally Miles

Director of Lending
M: 07983 437629

A mortgage expert focusing on lender relationships and service levels. Sally has worked in mortgages with lenders & intermediaries and in the prime, specialist and commercial areas.

Sally’s spare time is spent at home with family or at the Norfolk coast. She supports her local primary school and is a true chocoholic.

Sonny Gosai

Bridging and Commercial Director
M: 07930 931733

Andy Ingham

Director of Mortgages
M: 01792 439710

Andy has nearly 30 years of experience in finance, starting as a Financial Adviser and later specialising in Equity Release and Protection. In 2004, he joined the RBS group to help launch First Active Mortgages. He has held roles in Mortgages and Banking, including Head of Direct Brands, Local Director, and Senior Corporate Account Manager. Andy has also worked as a Financial Services Director and Sales Director for other brokerages before joining Brilliant Group.

Outside of work, Andy enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife, two grown up daughters, and their Lab, Lottie. He also plays golf, though not as often as he’d like.

The Sales Team - 01792 277 555

Ivan Vizor

Head of Key Accounts
M: 07725 488839

Ivan is an experienced mortgage professional. He has spent many years with the business and it’s not only brokers that love working with him, the team here at Brilliant HQ love having him around.

Ivan has a Brilliant sense of humour and a fantastic understanding of the specialist sector. Don’t mention Man City…

Donna McIntosh

Relationship Manager
DDI: 01480 702108

Donna has been in the financial industry since 2002 doing various roles, such as BTL Broker, Office Manager, Life Insurance to the Armed Forces, Office Administrator & A Divisional Coordinator.

Donna said “Now that I am a Relation Manager I can apply what I have always enjoyed, and that is, building up good relationship with Brokers”.

In Donna’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her 6 Grandchildren. She also loves great Action Movies, with a Nice Cognac and a bag of wotsits.

Andrew Lumsdaine

Sales Support

Andrew has over 15 years of experience in the sales and customer service industry. Andrew enjoys helping people and making sure that the customer’s experience is the best that it can be.

In his spare time, Andrew likes to spend time with his family, he plays pool to a county level and is a massive Liverpool FC fan, but don’t hold that against him!

The Operations Team - 01792 277 555

Rebecca Bates

Head of Secured Loans

Beccy has been in the second charge industry since 2014 and joined Brilliant in November 2021. Beccy likes building relationships with clients and brokers and likes to see things through.

In her spare time, Beccy has been renovating her house with her husband, spending time with family, and enjoys taking her dog for walks in her local village, with the occasional pit stop at the local pub.

Katie Hills

Secured Loans Specialist

Katie has been in the 2nd charge industry since 2014 and has always enjoyed helping clients achieve their goals. She strongly feels that 2nd charge mortgages are brilliant products and really can be the better option for a client, depending on their situation of course.

Katie is kept busy in her spare time with her 2 children, partner & dog and is partial to a glass (or more) of white.

Lyndsey Steele

Secured Loans Specialist

Lyndsey has worked in financial services since 2001, specialising in mortgages. Lyndsey has a can-do attitude and will always strive to achieve the very best for brokers and clients alike.

Lyndsey enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children and loves sports and the outdoors!

Jodie Grief

Secured Loans Specialist

Jodie has been in the Financial Industry since the age of 17 and worked with Brilliant Solutions for the majority of those years.

Jodie is a mum to two girls and loves having trips out, and going stockcar racing in her spare time. Also a dab hand at anything crafting.

Sara Matthews

Secured Loans Specialist

Sara has worked in the finance and mortgage industry for over 20 years, working for high street lenders and independent mortgage brokerages learning a skill set from mortgage underwriting to case packaging and everything in between.

Sara like enjoys early morning runs and falconry, often taking part in flying birds of prey.

Seaneen Jones

Mortgage Specialist Team Leader

Seaneen has worked in the financial industry since 2016 and particularly enjoys the specialist mortgages sector. Seaneen said it is because it allows her to build relationships with both lenders and brokers and really make a difference.

In her spare time, Seaneen enjoys spending time with her family.

BMA AWARDS 2021 – ADMINISTRATOR WINNER

Robyn Matthews

Senior Underwriting Specialist

Robyn graduated from University with a post-graduate certificate in property and facilities management hoping to join the property industry. She has joined the mortgage industry to make an impact in people’s lives and what better way to make an impact than to help secure someone a place to call home.

One of Robyn’s proudest achievements was climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise money for charity. Robyn enjoys playing Basketball, video games and spending time with her 2 children.

BMA AWARDS 2024 – ADMINISTRATOR NOMMINEE

Daisy Thomas

Specialist Mortgage Underwriter

Daisy has previous experience working in a mortgage brokers office; while working for Brilliant she is looking to develop career in the mortgage industry. She has a passion for helping clients and developing strong relationships with our lenders and brokers.

In her spare time, Daisy likes to spend time with her family and partner, watching rugby, and walking the dogs (especially if there is a pub at the end).

Ashley Bradley

Specialist Mortgage Underwriter

I’m Ash, I’m originally from south Wales but have spent the last few years working for the Financial Ombudsman Service in London and Birmingham.

I love spending my free time learning new hobbies. At the moment I’m teaching myself how to play chess whilst also learning Spanish. I’m a huge Swansea city fan and attend matches whenever I can.

Kieran Barnden

Bridging & Commercial Team Leader

Kieran joined Brilliant Solutions in 2018 and has enjoyed his time in Bridging & Commercial ever since.

He is a big football fan and follows his beloved Swansea City. Kieran enjoys cooking to relax whilst listening to some classic Britpop. He loves nothing more than his 2 kids which are his biggest achievement.

Kieran is always there to help and feels there is no job too small and certainly no job too big!

Nicky
De Freitas Vieira

Bridging & Commercial Specialist

Nicky has previously been in banking for 10 years with Lloyds then TSB. Nicky has always been motivated by great client outcomes and finds working with brokers on secured loans really rewarding.

Nicky enjoys spending time with his partner and children and loves good food, especially accompanied by a few drinks.

Megan Davies

Bridging & Commercial Specialist

Brought up in Swansea with a degree in Sculpture and a nearly decade-long career in the hospitality industry. Megan enjoys developing relationships, helping people meet their goals, and strives to achieve the best possible outcome for any client.

Megan is a contemporary Welsh artist, working on paintings in her spare time. The Welsh coast and its landscapes inspire her day-to-day life.

Oliver Hart

Trainee Bridging & Commercial Case Manager

Oliver has joined Brilliant Solutions after completing his studies in Computer Science at Swansea University. Oliver enjoys being part of a team and strives to support others wherever he can.

During Oliver’s free time he is currently learning Welsh. He likes to read and keeping up to date with the latest tech news.

We're recruiting!

Case Manager

Are you a driven professional looking to grow your career in the specialist lending market? 🤔

Join our Bridging and Commercial department as a Case Manager and be part of a fast-paced, high-growth sector. 🏗️

For more information contact Sonny Gosai at [email protected]

Finance & HR - 01792 277 555

Teg Purssell

Finance Manager

Her main responsibility is processing proc fees, this includes approving express payments. Teg is constantly improving her skills and knowledge.

As an amateur foodie she is always happy hearing new tips and tricks.

Natasha Courtney

Finance Executive

Since completing her studies for an MSc in Management (Finance) from Swansea University , Natasha has joined the team keen to improve her skills & knowledge within the industry.

Natasha enjoys spending time with her family, friends and (many… many) pets. In her spare time, you’ll often catch Natasha either at the cinema watching the latest film release, or at a concert for her love of music!

The Marketing Team - 01792 277 555

Grazia Caracciolo-Pool

Marketing Manager

Grazia has been Brilliant for years, supporting the Sales & the Board.

Full of energy & ideas, any marketing has been the perfect place for her creativity to run riot! Photography is an obsession for Grazia who is also a lover of Ferrari, hats, gadgets & everything Italian!

Beth Ody

Marketing Assistant

Beth’s media background and over a decade of hands-on experience in the hospitality industry are an invaluable skill set for event planning and coordination. Beth is always planning and putting forward new ideas and plans for supporting and educating our brokers with memorable experiences.

Outside of her work life, Beth enjoys immersing herself in a good book, cheering on her favorite F1 and rugby teams, and exploring new destinations. Her love of travel, first sparked during her university years, continues to influence her perspective and fuels her creativity in both work and life.

Sam Telford

Broker Support Administrator

Supporting brokers with the most difficult of cases. Sam has an in-built passion to learn new skills and information and is always looking to improve his knowledge of the market.

Sam challenges himself in his spare time too. Currently a house renovation, and reading non-fiction books about Science & Mathematics.

We're recruiting!
TBA

Finance Executive

We are recruiting for an opportunity to work in our dynamic team here at Brilliant. Get in touch and find out how we can help you make the most of your skills and drive your career forward.

Sarah Austin

Martin-Redman

Your mortgage support is fantastic. Whoever I speak to, about whatever type of mortgage, gives me genuine support and clearly has real expertise. The team are also a joy to work with!

Rob Field Cert CII (MP)

Mortgage Adviser

Everyone at Brilliant is highly informed and across any and all up to the minute product and criteria offerings from the lenders.

Anyone I have spoken to has provided a genuine high level of service and interest in my business which really makes them a “go-to” contact.

In addition to giving advice and support for the packaged panel, the team at Brilliant also provide insight and help for brokers to find solutions with the non-packaged lenders.

Their recent series of webinars hosted in partnership with the various panel lenders have proved to be extremely useful.

Brilliant are a firm that does precisely what it says on the tin!

Sam Clark

Director / Adviser | CSC Financial Ltd

Brilliant Solutions and their team have been excellent in supporting my business over the past 6 years.

Matthew Arena and Michael Craig have built an amazing team of specialists who have helped my business grow. All of the team are friendly and go the extra mile to help my clients and advisers achieve their goals.

I have found their webinars and workshops over the past year to be very informative, and they were delivered in a professional but informal way.

Michael Craig has brought brokers and lenders together in social Zoom meetings by way of quiz evenings and charity poker events, this has kept broker/lender relationships strong, and in some cases, new relationships have been built off the back of these events.

The icing on the cake is that Brilliant are the only mortgage club I can think of that pay commissions to brokers within 24 hours of completion, and in the majority of cases on the same day! In the initial months of the pandemic, I am sure this certainty over cash flow helped keep some companies afloat.

Well done Matthew, Michael and all of the team at Brilliant; keep up the good work!”

Stuart Powell

Ocean Mortgages Ltd

I cannot believe the hard work and perseverance that your team has shown on this case. It has been going on for over 6 months now and your team has been nothing short of outstanding.

The client had a really tricky set of circumstances and was often reluctant to provide all the information that the lender needed.

However, the skill, knowledge and effort of your team, especially Drew Sage has created an awesome client outcome and a very happy broker.

Thanks again,

Lynsey McMenemy CeMAP

Director | Hansar Mortgages

I wanted to pass on feedback to you, Cushla has been great working my cases. I am really impressed with her persistence, quick replies and information provided. It has not been easy cases and I am grateful for the help and have been super impressed.

Thanks again

Michael Parsons

Finance Advice Group

This case, is by far one of the most challenging I have faced but I undoubtedly could not have got it done with you being there to help me through it. From the issues with underwriting and then problems with the warranty, you 100% went the extra mile on for the clients to ensure this case got over the line and for this I thank you.

Samuel Gee

Manning Gee Investments

Brilliant Solutions has been a key part of my business since it started in January 2020. The service received from them has been consistently excellent, and more than I have experienced with other clubs in the past. They have helped me develop my mortgage business, given direction with complex cases and always gone more than the extra mile.

I recently had a complex Ltd Co BTL case where company was also trading as well as being an SPV, and additionally it was owned by a holding company, not the directors. For various reasons, we struggled to place even with the usual specialists but Brilliant Solutions spent time helping us find a lender that would do what we needed. They have since seen that case through and we are expecting completion on this business imminently. With Brilliant Solutions’ help, we saved the case, the clients were very happy (not to mention the deal being amazing anyway) and we were glad to be able to place the case.

The team are always accessible, we are building up relationships with their specialists and know that help is just a phonecall away from a club that offers service better than I’ve experienced before.

Rakesh Chandarana

Lord Clarke Ltd

Brilliant Solutions Mortgage Club are a pleasure to work with. In the time that we have been dealing with Brilliant we have found that they, and in particular Ivan Vizor place as much emphasis on my client and the right solution as they do on ensuring the service they give to us is from the top drawer. As the mortgage industry changes its paramount that we connect with the right partners to help us evolve and Brilliant are an excellent partner to work together with Lord Clarke Ltd.

Mark Carvell

James & James Financial Advisers Limited

The people at Brilliant are extremely approachable and work tirelessly to help secure or offer tips on cases where they have previous experience in dealing with similar cases previously. They pay cases very quickly and also provide links for commercial loans/bridging we have also looked at with our clients. They provide an all round solutions for most of our clients requirements. In addition they provide regular CPD sessions with useful webinars involving lenders which has been extremely valuable during the pandemic.

Bob Carvell

James & James Financial Advisers Limited

Brilliant are always at the end of the phone with great advice to help get those tricky mortgages over the line.

Astra Williams

Brilliant are always my first port of call for any unusual cases, the team take away the time-consuming research that can often be needed and will point me in the direction of the best solution – even if it’s not using them! They have my trust 100% and don’t know what I would do without them!

South East Mortgage Solutions Ltd

I wish to note a huge thanks to Brilliant Solutions and their team. Working from only last year with Andrew Lumsdaine my BDM since my integration from my previous route, I can say that in the last 26 years of working in the financial mortgage industry that Andrew Lumsdaine has walked me through step by step with my start with Brilliant Solutions, and I can certainly say that since last year the way that he has been able to show me that there are mortgage clubs that can offer full support and honestly prove that they can complete on transactions exactly on the time that is stated. This support from Brilliant Solutions has made a massive impact on my business and has given me the encouragement to be able to move ahead in what we are all dealing with in the difficult financial times.

Andrew Lumsdaine has also introduced me to the relevant team to support payments of proc fees on time and the commission team is superb ! I only wish I had worked with them much sooner ! to all of you brokers out there if you are not with Brilliant Solutions then you should be, I have succeeded on 100% of cases, and to have them with you offering this level of support and accuracy and proven efficiency that I have ever seen in over 10 years at least ! This is the support that all brokers need on board !

Thank you all so much for your hard work and I am a very happy broker to be alongside with you.

Christina Melville. Financial Director.

Helen Clark

Heartstone Ltd

Brilliant Solutions go the extra mile to find the right lender, the right product and they do it with the right attitude.

Wayne Wells PLS

Financial Services Ltd

I moved my mortgage club to Brilliant Mortgages last year after over 20 years in the industry and can honestly say they are the best club I have ever used.

Alun Griffiths

Griffiths & Griffiths

Use the mortgage club and you will get a personal service that you can rely on. Thanks for your continued support.

Contact the Team

Meet the Team

Management

Matthew Arena

Group Managing Director M: 07808 922383

Michael Craig

Managing Director M: 07912 581123

Sally Miles

Director of Lending M: 07983 437629

Sonny Gosai

Bridging and Commercial Director M: 07930 931733

Management

Matthew Arena

Group Managing Director M: 07808 922383

Michael Craig

Managing Director M: 07912 581123

Sally Miles

Director of Lending M: 07983 437629

Sonny Gosai

Bridging and Commercial Director M: 07930 931733

Andy Ingham

Director of Mortgages M: 01792 439710

The Sales Team - 01792 277 555

Ivan Vizor

Head of Key AccountsM: 07725 488839

Donna McIntosh

Relationship ManagerDDI: 01480 702108

Andrew Lumsdaine

Sales Support

The Operations Team - 01792 277 555

Rebecca Bates

Head of Secured Loans

Katie Hills

Secured Loans Specialist

Lyndsey Steele

Secured Loans Specialist

Jodie Grief

Secured Loans Specialist

Sara Matthews

Secured Loans Specialist

Seaneen Jones

Mortgage Specialist Team Leader

Robyn Matthews

Senior Underwriting Specialist

Daisy Thomas

Specialist Mortgage Underwriter

Ashley Bradley

Specialist Mortgage Underwriter

Kieran Barnden

Bridging & Commercial Team Leader

Nicky De Freitas Vieira

Bridging & Commercial Specialist

Megan Davies

Bridging & Commercial Specialist

Oliver Hart

Trainee Bridging & Commercial Case Manager

We're recruiting!

Case Manager

Finance & HR - 01792 277 555

Teg Purssell

Finance Manager

Natasha Courtney

Finance Executive

The Marketing Team - 01792 277 555

Grazia Caracciolo-Pool

Marketing Manager

Beth Ody

Marketing Assistant

Sam Telford

Broker Support Administrator

We're recruiting!TBA

Finance Executive

LINKS

Group Managing Director
M: 07808 922383

Managing Director
M: 07912 581123

Director of Lending
M: 07983 437629

Bridging and Commercial Director
M: 07930 931733

Group Managing Director
M: 07808 922383

Managing Director
M: 07912 581123

Director of Lending
M: 07983 437629

Bridging and Commercial Director
M: 07930 931733

Director of Mortgages
M: 01792 439710

Head of Key Accounts
M: 07725 488839

Relationship Manager
DDI: 01480 702108

Nicky
De Freitas Vieira

We're recruiting!
TBA