Conte replaces Jane Barnes, who is understood to have been relocated.
Conte, who will report to ME marketing manager Stephanie Yaguer, joins from HBOS-owned Birmingham Midshires, where she was a PR executive.
‘The specialist mortgage sector will be busy this year,’ said Conte. Particularly active for the lender would be equity release products, alongside its buy-to-let, lifetime, self-certification and 100 per cent mortgages.