A former director of Savills Private Clients and two-time winner of broker of the year, Maria Magnussen sits down for a chat with B&C to talk about her new role at Dragonfly Property Finance, miserable commuters and the finer points of equestrianism…

B&C: How long have you been a part of the short-term industry, and how did you come to work at Dragonfly?

MM: I have been with Dragonfly as their New Business Development Manager since the beginning of February, after 22 years of being a mortgage broker. The bridging industry is a dynamic and exciting industry to be a part of at present, and I was impressed by Dragonfly’s passion for customer service as well as its can-do-attitude.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

Anything or anyone that would earn lots and lots of money – and that would allow me to enjoy myself while doing so.

How do you feel about stepping into such a high-profile position in the industry?

Very excited and really looking forward to rising to the challenge!

What do you think are the biggest problems within the bridging industry at the moment?

Having sat on the other side of the fence, I understand what good levels of service mean to brokers, and Dragonfly consistently delivers to the highest levels.

If a film was made about your life story, who would play the lead role and why?

A much younger Helen Mirren, because she is feisty, versatile and always gives a powerful performance.

Dragonfly recently hit £500m of lending – what’s next on the horizon?

To infinity and beyond…

What would you put into room 101 if you had the chance?

Not so much what, as who: miserable commuters. No-one wants to commute, but why not just smile and be nice? It makes life much bearable for everyone!

If you could have any one superpower, what would it be and why?

The power to not feel pain…I ride horses regularly - and fall off - and the older you get the worse the pain becomes.

What do you think will come to affect the bridging industry most in the next 12 months?

While the benefit from the funding for lending scheme has started to trickle into the industry, there is still little appetite on the high street for more complex forms of finance, so bridging will still be a vital form of lending.

How would you spend the perfect Sunday?

Get up early, take the dogs and horse out for a two-hour hack with friends, return to a full roast dinner with everyone, then settle down in front of a roaring log fire with a good book and a glass of wine to while away the afternoon.