Keystone Property Finance's sales director and industry stalwart Phil Riches is set to retire later this month following a financial services career spanning 50 years.
Riches has spent the last 14 years at Keystone, joining in 2012 as the specialist buy-to-let lender relaunched. He became head of sales in 2013 and sales director in 2018.
As well as helping drive Keystone forward, Riches is one of the most familiar faces on the conference circuit, regularly speaking at roadshows and other events to educate brokers about complex buy-to-let.
Following Riches’ departure, Keystone’s commercial director, Steve Griffiths, will take over responsibility for account relationships.
Riches began his career as a clerk at National Westminster Bank in 1976, before taking on managerial roles at both City & Metropolitan Building Society and Nationwide Building Society, where he spent nearly a decade.
In 1991, he joined Paragon Mortgages as regional sales manager. In the early 2000s, he moved to Platform to become divisional sales manager, before leaving for Solution4 in 2008, where he was sales director. After Solution4, he joined Keystone, where he remains today.
Commenting on his retirement, Riches said: “After more than 50 years in an industry that has given me so many opportunities, friendships and memorable experiences, I have decided that the time is right to retire. The past 14 years at Keystone have been particularly rewarding, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues and advisers.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and grateful for the support, trust and friendships that have developed throughout my career. While I will miss the people most of all, I am looking forward to spending more time with family and embracing the next chapter.”
David Whittaker, CEO of Keystone Property Finance, said: “It's hard to overstate how big a role Phil has played in helping turn Keystone into the leading specialist lender that it is today. His knowledge, his passion and his relationships are unrivalled and he has been a wonderful ambassador for us over the years. It has been a genuine pleasure to work with him as the business has evolved and grown over the years.
"We've known this day was coming for a while. While we’re sad to be losing such a talented and valued colleague, we are saying goodbye to a fantastic friend. Everyone here at Keystone wishes him a long and happy retirement.”
