Mr Crawshaw has had to step down from the post and as CEO of buy-to-let mortgage specialist Bradford and Bingley, for health reasons. He was previously one of the deputy chairmen at the CML.

Mr Brown is managing director, Bank of Ireland Personal Lending. He has been in his current position since 2001, where he is responsible for Bristol & West mortgages & Bank of Ireland mortgages, as well as motor finance and personal loan operations.

He graduated in 1985 from Bath University with a degree in economics and joined Bristol & West in 1992. Since then, Mr Brown has held a variety of financial positions including head of professional investments, head of central mortgage services and director of lending.

The CML executive committee will be asked to confirm him as chairman for the remainder of the year at its next meeting in July.

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