We sat down with Hamza Behzad, our Business Development Director, to talk about what’s next for Finova’s growth — and how we’re helping more lenders unlock the full value of our technology.
With over a decade of experience in financial services strategy and digital transformation, Hamza shares his perspective on the market, the role of technology, and how Finova is solving complex challenges in smarter, more agile ways.
What inspired you to join Finova — and what excites you most about this next chapter?
I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can reshape financial services. I started my career advising tier-1 banks at Accenture, but I wanted to be closer to the technologies actually powering the industry. Joining Finova felt like the perfect step — the company is at the forefront of modernising UK mortgage and savings technology, and my role gives me the chance to help shape how lenders scale and adapt in a rapidly changing market.
Your background spans consultancy and digital banking. How has that shaped your approach to business development?
My job is all about listening. In consultancy and digital banking, I spent years working with executives to understand their pain points and find practical solutions. That’s the same approach I bring to Finova: keeping an open channel with lenders, brokers, and partners so we can understand challenges and align the right technology to solve them.
From your perspective, what sets Finova apart in the market today?
It’s our combination of agility and depth. We’re the UK’s largest cloud-based mortgage and savings platform, but we’re also extremely nimble. Unlike legacy providers, we can deploy new propositions in months, not years, while still giving lenders the flexibility to configure processes their way. That balance — speed, scale, and configurability — is what really makes us stand out.
What are some of the most exciting opportunities you’re seeing right now?
Specialist lending is an area I’m keeping a very close eye on. Demand for bridging, buy-to-let, and lifetime mortgage products is rising fast, and lenders need systems that can handle more complex cases. That’s why we’re investing in platforms that support niche lending types, advanced automation, and smarter decisioning — because the market is only going to get more diverse.
How do you help customers align the right tech with the right strategic goals?
It comes down to transparency and flexibility. With open data, AI-driven underwriting, and configurable workflows, we can show lenders exactly how a platform adapts to their business. It’s not about forcing change, but about proving that technology can slot into existing processes, reduce risk, and free teams to focus on growth.
What role do partnerships and collaboration play in driving long-term value?
Huge. Our sector is still fragmented, with too many manual hand-offs and siloed systems. The right partnerships create connected platforms where brokers, lenders, and third-parties can all work seamlessly together. That’s what I want to see more of in the UK mortgage market — collaboration that genuinely speeds up the process and improves outcomes for customers.
What are your top priorities over the next 6–12 months as we scale?
Continuing to grow our footprint in specialist lending and ensuring Finova’s technology remains the most agile on the market. That means supporting more lenders to digitise retention, scale buy-to-let propositions, and embrace AI-powered automation — all without disrupting their day-to-day business.
Quick fire round
🎶 What’s your go-to playlist or song when you need to focus? - A chill house mix from my favourite DJs
🍴 One meal you could eat every day and never get bored of? - Haleem, the perfect stew
📱 Favourite app for making life easier (outside of work)? - Perpetually lost without Google maps
✈️ Dream holiday destination at the top of your list? - New Zealand so I feel like I'm in the lord of the Rings
🎬 First film you’d recommend to anyone? - Interstellar.. masterpiece
At Finova, helping lenders stay ahead means more than building great tech — it’s about combining deep industry insight with scalable, agile solutions. With experience across consultancy, digital banking, and financial services transformation, Hamza is helping clients uncover new use cases, solve problems faster, and unlock more value from our platform. If you’re looking to scale, adapt, or transform your lending operations — we’d love to chat.
