The Equity Release Council (the Council) is promoting Kelly Melville-Kelly to the role of deputy chief executive as part of a major restructure.

Melville-Kelly becomes deputy chief executive immediately, reporting into CEO Jim Boyd.  She remains director of risk, policy and compliance.

The restructure also sees Laura Gibson appointed as head of membership and engagement, and Tom Brett promoted to head of commercial and business development. Both roles will report into Melville-Kelly.

In addition, the Council, says it is also in the process of hiring a new head of risk, policy and compliance to further strengthen its governance and oversight capability.

The changes follow an extraordinary general meeting in December where the Council’s members agreed to a special resolution broadening the Council’s remit across all forms of later life lending that fall within the regulated mortgage environment – while explicitly retaining equity release as a core and protected area of focus.