Centuria Bass Credit, a real estate non-bank lender and investment manager, has announced the appointment of two industry experts to its team, further strengthening its operational and distribution capabilities in response to significant growth.
John Kalaf (pictured above left) joins the Sydney office as senior advisor of distribution, bringing more than 35 years of experience in global financial markets to the role, while Peter Callanan (pictured above right) steps into the position of director for investor operations at the Melbourne office, with 15 years of expertise in funds management and investor relations.
In a media release, Centuria Bass said the strategic appointments come at a time when the company is experiencing a remarkable 41% annual increase in funds under management (FUM), reaching approximately $1.6 billion. This growth is driven by a high demand for non-bank real estate finance, fueled by the current high interest rate environment and a tightening of loan criteria by traditional lenders.
Giles Borten and Nick Goh, joint CEOs of Centuria Bass, highlighted the sustained demand for residential stock and the strong investor appetite for high returns within a short time frame of 12-18 months as key growth drivers. They anticipate that these market conditions will persist, necessitating an expansion of the workforce to support ongoing growth.
Kalaf and Callanan will report to Yehuda Gottlieb, managing director of funds and distribution, and are part of a series of recent strategic hires across the Sydney and Melbourne offices. Their roles will be crucial in enhancing Centuria Bass’ capital raising strategies and streamlining operations across Australia.
“We’re pleased to welcome John and Peter to the Centuria Bass team,” Gotllieb said. “John’s expertise in global wholesale markets and financial markets analysis make him a valuable addition to our distribution team, while Peter’s operational expertise will generate significant value and efficiencies across the business.”
Kalaf’s previous experience includes positions at GFI Group, Icap Sydney, and Lasser Marshall, along with executive leadership training at Stanford Business School.
Callanan brings a wealth of experience from MaxCap Group, NAB, and SEI Investments, backed by an educational foundation in business information systems and a professional accounting qualification from the ACCA.
Since its establishment in 2016, Centuria Bass has grown to manage approximately $1.6bn in FUM across 127 investments, consistently delivering impressive returns on secured private credit loans.
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