The Equity Release Council has created a risk, policy and compliance team.

Kelly Melville-Kelly has been appointed as head of risk, policy and compliance.

Melville-Kelly has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry and has previously held positions at Alliance & Leicester and Legal & General.

Equity Release Council membership rises by 97% in two years

In addition, Sue Read is taking up the role of risk, policy and compliance manager.

Read has more than 30 years’ experience working as a BDM, underwriter, operations manager, trainer, compliance officer and an adviser.

The team will be focused on developing information and recommendations to the council’s standards board and committees.

Jim Boyd, chief executive of the Equity Release Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome Kelly and Sue to the council at this time of growth for our organisation.

“These latest hires complement our professional capabilities and will help to inject even greater pace into the council’s member and consumer-focused initiatives.

“The creation of a risk, policy and compliance team adds further weight to our role as a standards-setter in the later life sector, as we continue to evolve and revise our important standards.

“Kelly and Sue’s abundance of experience will prove pivotal in helping the council and the standards board ensure we continue to lead the way in setting the bar for best practice in later life lending.

“Given the many opportunities that exist in the market to deliver value to customers, the timing for this recruitment could not be better.”