CML Scotland announces new chairman

13 Mar 09

Douglas Cochrane, national new build manager for the Halifax brands, has been appointed Chairman of CML Scotland for 2009/10. His appointment succeeds Crawford McCaughie, senior manager lending at Dunfermline Building Society.

Addressing delegates at CML Scotland’s annual lunch in Edinburgh today, Douglas Cochrane said:

"This will be another challenging year for the housing and mortgage markets. Lenders need to remain visible as we work to help restore the flow of funding and sympathetically manage the increase in defaulting borrowers as a result of the unprecedented market conditions.”

Douglas has worked for the HBOS group in Scotland for 30 years and currently specialises in the new build and affordable housing markets. He previously held the position of CML Scotland vice chairman, is a director and board member on the Construction Licensing Executive and a member of the NHBC's Council.

Notes to editors

1. The Council of Mortgage Lenders' members are banks, building societies and other lenders who together undertake around 98% of all residential mortgage lending in the UK. There are 11.7 million mortgages in the UK, with loans worth over £1.2 trillion.

2. CML Scotland's members are drawn from 21 active mortgage lenders in Scotland.

3. Michael Coogan, CML director general, also spoke at the annual lunch outlining the challenges facing the industry today. A full copy of his speech is attached.