Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Alex Upton is the managing director of specialist mortgages and bridging at Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB), where she leads both teams with an unwavering commitment to accessibility, flexibility and practical solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, she has built a reputation for cutting through complexity and making specialist lending work effectively for brokers and their clients.
Known for challenging the status quo, Upton ensures brokers don’t face unnecessary barriers in securing decisions. At HTB, direct access to underwriters and senior decision-makers isn’t a luxury – it’s the standard. Whether it’s structuring finance for large portfolios, HMOs or complex cases, Upton makes sure brokers work with a lender that moves at their speed, ensuring quick, efficient solutions.
Her leadership style is grounded in collaboration, problem-solving and a results-focused approach. Under Upton’s direction, HTB continues to be the lender that brokers trust when they need a specialist who doesn’t just understand complexity – but thrives on it.
80 Fenchurch Street, City of London, London EC3N 2ER
020 7886 4718
alex.upton@htb.co.uk
linkedin.com/in/alex-upton-0baa3b67
htb.co.uk
Alex Upton
Managing Director, Specialist Mortgages and Bridging Finance
Hampshire Trust Bank
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Milestones
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
2018–2020
2020–2021
2021–2024
Present
2023-present
Sales Director at Hampshire Trust Bank
2018–
2020
Commercial Director at Hampshire Trust Bank
2020–
2021
2021–2024: Managing Director, Development Finance at Hampshire Trust Bank
2023: Business Leader of the Year, Financial Reporter Awards
2024: Woman in Specialist Lending, Women’s Recognition Awards
2021–
2024
Managing Director, Specialist Mortgages and Bridging Finance at Hampshire Trust Bank since 2024
Present
Sales Director at HTB
2023–
present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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