The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has appointed Paul Smee as a new director, as the trade body looks to accelerate growth plans.

Smee, one of the founders of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, left his last role as director General of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in July, after the organisation – now UK Finance – ceased to exist.

“I have been chief executive of three trade bodies over 20 years so I have a lot of experience of working with small businesses and I have a particular passion for making sure they are well represented,” said Smee.

“I understand regulation and the impact of regulation – and will be doing some horizon scanning for the RLA, spotting issues before they hit so the association is always one step ahead of the game, he added. “It was a great honour to be approached to join the board and I look forward to a long and successful working relationship.”

In addition to his wealth of experience working within trade associations, the RLA, which represents around 50,000 private sector residential landlords in England and Wales, hope that Smee, who is a co-opted non-executive director, will bring in-depth knowledge of fiscal and economic matters.

RLA chairman, Alan Ward, said: “Paul’s knowledge of the mortgage market and experience of large organisations, will be invaluable to the growth of the RLA. He adds a new dimension to the skills of the board.”