‘I thrive on building relationships with lenders and brokers’

By Tony Sanchez 18th February 2021

D&R Partner’s Recruitment is a specialist financial services recruitment consultancy striving to provide an unrivalled, first-class consultative professional client and candidate experience.

D&R provide candidates for permanent, contract and temporary positions within the fields of bridging finance, development finance, commercial finance, lending, secured Lending, financial planning and wealth management.

We speak to sales director, Rico Iheagwara:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging and development finance business?

It is very niche and renowned market, an exceptional lending market that has gone from strength to strength.

A lot of lenders are now moving into the specialist lending market due to the quick access to funds; the bridging and development market also benefits individuals with adverse credit.

A very vibrant and exciting sector to be part of, working with some amazing and interesting clients and candidates.

I find every day is different and I’m very passionate about the bridging and development sector

What keeps you focused?

My focus is in the ever-changing lending market; the fact that you need to be right on top your game to stay competitive and keep ahead of the competition.

I thrive on building relationships with lenders and brokers and maintaining these relationships due to the first-class quality service I provide and the knowledge I bring to market so not to waste client’s or prospective candidates time, trying to get it right first time every time.

I drive myself to move D&R Recruitment forward within the finance sector and going from strength to strength.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

The qualities I find in my colleagues and employees is that they are focused on success and do not just work hard but also look at other avenues to continue their growth, loyalty, people who strive to overachieve and that live and breathe similar ethics, principles and goals as myself.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I am an optimist, always have a positive mental attitude and good things happen. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

What did you want to be as a child?

I wanted to be a History teacher, I loved learning about the world and what has happened in the past.

I wanted to share this new found knowledge with anyone who was willing to listen.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging & development finance industry in the coming months?

With the stamp duty holiday coming to an end soon, the challenge lies in how this will affect the market moving forward.

Who or what makes you laugh?

My son, my kitten and also a stand-up comedian from Liverpool called Paul Smith.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

I love Monday mornings, yes this sounds very cliché as this would be something you would expect a business owner to say however as much as I love spending the weekends with my son by Monday I am chomping at the bit to get going again.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I can never switch off, LinkedIn and social media keeps me constantly switched on, if it be a Monday morning or a Saturday afternoon I am always on the lookout for new business, who is doing what and who’s going where.

Some downtime would be great from time to time.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

I know this is the question in which you would expect me to say a great celebrity or some sort of influential advisor however my partner has been there with me through the ups, a lot of the downs that my working life has thrown my way, she makes me smile as much as she makes me happy.