THE TEAM
MANAGEMENT
KAIRAN HOWARD-SHAWBELL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PROPERTY FINANCE
SAMANTHA DEMUTH,
CeMAP
DIRECTOR - UK
PROPERTY FINANCE
JIMMY KEOHANE
COUNTRY HEAD - IRELAND
PROPERTY FINANCE
JAMES GUTIERREZ
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
PROPERTY FINANCE
RACHEL SANTOS
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
PROPERTY FINANCE
With a remarkable journey spanning 15 years in the competitive world of professional football, Jimmy Keohane possesses a unique blend of discipline, determination, and strategic thinking. His career on the pitch has taken him through the ranks, including the League of Ireland, English Football League, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League Qualifiers.
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Jimmy's passion for learning extends beyond the football pitch. He earned a BSc in Mathematics from the Open University, demonstrating his commitment to personal and intellectual growth. Now, he's eager to leverage his analytical skills and strategic mindset to make a lasting impact in the fields of Property and Finance.
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Outside of his professional career, Jimmy is an avid traveller who embraces an active outdoor lifestyle. His appreciation for the environment, coupled with his curiosity for new technology, reflects his broad interests and his well-rounded approach to life.
Samantha, or Sam as she prefers to be known, started her career in financial services in 1997 joining Halifax as a Personal Banker and Trainee Mortgage Adviser. She then moved across to UCB Home Loans initially as a Mortgage Adviser, where she obtained her CeMAP, before transitioning into a Business Development Manager managing the firms broker networks for the next 5 years. With being so highly respected, one of her broker firms, Mortgage Eye, ended up approaching her about a role, working as an independent ‘whole-of-market’ broker for them which she chose to pursue.
As a result of the global financial crisis she decided to refocus her energies on a new career in technology within media and advertising where she worked for over 10 years with Mediaocean. She managed a portfolio of key agencies and business partnerships that made up over 60% of their EMEA business, offering outstanding client service through strategic planning, capturing business needs through successful delivery and ongoing support along with technical problem solving and coordinating software testing. She was also responsible for managing a team of 6 reports.
She returned to finance and mortgage advice in April 2021. She has developed a keen interest in property investment during the pandemic and wanted to move back to the industry. She setup her own firm, Native Mortgages as an AR of Linear and progressed through achieving CAS status. She joins Finanze at a period of exception growth of the brand and is looking forward to helping make people’s property dream a reality. Alongside her passion, experience and skill she is an expert problem solver. She never looks at a transaction as a ‘one-off’ instead preferring to understand her clients motivations, aspirations and needs to plan for a long term synergistic relationship.
In her free time, she has a keen interest in renewables, wellbeing, nature and the community with a desire someday to build inspiring, community- led energy efficient villages, that are multi-generational, with family and community at their heart.
Rachel started her career working in retail, within account management and billing before moving into IT help desk support. Following which she worked in the property sector focusing on the sourcing new properties for investors, along with reaching out to owners to find properties for sale. Graduating with a degree in Programming and with further qualifications in Computer Hardware Servicing, her strengths have always been a methodical attention to detail and the ability to streamline business processes.
Working as the Administration Manager for Finanze, she oversees the Case Management team, designing and managing the onboarding process for all new customers. This ensures that new clients get the best possible service all throughout their transactions with us. For returning customers she continues to look after them, ensuring documentation is up to date and accurate and assists the business team with submitting applications to lenders. She also plays an important role in ensuring we remain compliant with the rules and regulations of both our network and the Financial Conduct Authority.
James Gutierrez brings over 15 years of versatile experience to his role as Senior Associate, Property Finance within Finanze, specialising in strategic relationship building, market analysis and tailored client solutions. With a proven track record across industries such as outsourcing, recruitment, media and financial services. James excels at identifying growth opportunities and delivering tangible value through carefully crafted brokerage solutions.
James’ background as Senior Customer Success Manager at Magic Inc. and Co-Founder of TNT Fight underscores his ability to manage complex client relationships and navigate diverse market landscapes. His cross-cultural proficiency as a dual citizen of the U.S. and the Philippines ensures effective communication and seamless execution of international transactions. Grounded in a strong understanding of psychology, James adeptly aligns client motivations with strategic outcomes.
At Finanze, James is committed to driving measurable results, enhancing client satisfaction and fostering long-term partnerships that support sustained business growth.
Kairan is a highly experienced finance professional and property finance broker with a career spanning over eight years in the sector. He began his journey in finance working with a prestigious family office in Mayfair, where he gained invaluable insight into the lending side of the industry. Since then, he has built a reputation as a trusted adviser to clients navigating the complex world of property finance.
As CEO of Finanze, he leads with a client-first mindset and a passion for delivering tailored financial solutions. With a deep understanding of the full property finance lifecycle — from BTL mortgages to large-scale development and bridging finance, as well as more niche strategies such as title splitting and lease extensions — he brings a strategic, solutions-oriented approach to every case. His ability to structure complex deals and align them with client goals has earned him the trust of developers, investors, and business owners across the UK.
Prior to joining Finanze, Kairan held positions at specialist brokerages and lenders, refining his expertise in deal structuring, credit risk, and relationship management. Today, he channels that experience into helping clients access the right funding at the right time, with a focus on transparency, speed, and long-term value.
At Finanze, he is also instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and growth strategy — always with a focus on innovation and client empowerment.