Kanebridge has announced its high-profile founder and CEO Marwan Rahme will step down from his role as principle broker to focus on the company’s media division.
The change will mean Kanebridge Capital, which focuses on business, home loans, and asset finance, will be renamed Kanebridge Finance.
The newly named company will be steered by its new managing director Jon Gawley (pictured above centre) and new head of finance Rebecca Somerville (pictured above left).
As managing director, Marwan Rahme (pictured above right) has been at the helm of Kanebridge since 1999 after he established the-then home renovation business with money earned from his job at Coles.
From there, Rahme launched an empire that includes property, finance, investment, and media services. Kanebridge now operates through its subsidiaries Kanebridge Property, Kanebridge Capital, and Kanebridge News.
Its finance arm has settled more than $2 billion in loans, while its media arm reaches a readership of 120,000 across Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and North Africa.
Over the years, Kanebridge Capital and Rahme have accrued more than 20 accolades and awards, including Rahme featuring among MPA’s Top Commercial Broker of the Year list from 2021 to 2023.
He was also an excellence awardee (finalist) for the La Trobe Financial Commercial Broker of the Year award at this year’s Australian Mortgage Awards.
In the 2023 financial year, the company achieved a combined 95% year-on-year increase in loan settlements.
With Rahme stepping down, Kanebridge Finance’s operations will be managed by Gawley and Somerville.
Gawley has spent the past two years as the company’s senior portfolio manager and has more than two decades of experience in senior business banking and business development roles at NAB and Suncorp.
Somerville joined the company last year, bringing with her 22 years of banking experience that spans retail, commercial and asset finance, including 18 years at NAB and four years at St.George Bank in various roles, including business banking manager and financial analyst.
The company said Gawley will head the operations of Kanebridge Finance and “continue to build on the legacy” created by Rahme.
Gawley plans to expand Kanebridge’s borrower base and loan product portfolio across commercial, property development, asset, and home finance.
“I am looking forward to steering and growing a highly motivated team to continue assisting customers,” said Gawley. “Our customers will benefit from Rebecca’s deep knowledge and long banking experience to help reach their financial goals.”
“With our combined 40 years of business banking experience, Rebecca and I will also focus on providing a broader range of financing solutions and maintaining Kanebridge’s market reputation.”
Rahme said both newly appointed directors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table and have a passion for helping clients through the entire financing process and building relationships.
“Through their guidance, Kanebridge Finance will continue growing its loan settlements and continue being recognised as a leading provider commercial and residential property financing and wealth advisory services,” Rahme said.
Rahme will step into the roles of CEO of Robb Report Australia and New Zealand and property, finance and investment adviser at Kanebridge Quarterly, to steer the growth of Kanebridge News.
Rahme said a passion for publishing and delivering top industry news had fuelled the transition.
“I have nothing but love for these publications and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to come on board in a more direct capacity,” he said. “Magazines are as strong as ever – especially in the luxury, boutique market where publications can connect directly with an exclusive, curated readership.”
“Looking at what we’ve achieved with Robb Report over the past seven years, the future is equally as bright for our newer magazine, Kanebridge Quarterly, which is aimed at an engaged, intelligent readership in the property, finance and lifestyle spaces.”
Upon his announcement to step back, Rahme paid tribute to the Australian Finance Group (AFG) for its “unwavering support” as the company’s mortgage aggregator over the past two decades.
“AFG has supported Kanebridge’s journey throughout the years in business, celebrating our successes, and guiding and informing us the whole way,” he said.
“Its technology, experts, training and knowledge have been important ingredients to our success, and we look forward to building Kanebridge Finance in partnership.”
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