KEITH Astill has been appointed managing director of UCB Home Loans, the specialist lending subsidiary of Nationwide Building Society.

He takes up his new post today replacing Charles Reed, who has been appointed the divisional director of customer service and communications at the Pipers Way head office.

Mr Astill has spent most of his working life within the financial services sector, the majority of which has been with Nationwide.

He has held a variety of management roles in the retail operations area, and moved into personnel and development in 1995.

Keith is married with two children, is a school governor and enjoys most sports. He holds an MBA, ACIB and is a chartered FCIPD.