Funding, a prominent provider of tech-enabled bridging and short-term finance, has appointed two new business development managers (BDMs) in New South Wales and Queensland, further bolstering its broker partnerships.
The new BDMs, David Conroy (pictured far left) and Karen Valenzuela (pictured centre left), bring a combined 28 years of experience to the company, joining at a time of rapid growth.
Their roles will focus on expanding and strengthening broker relationships in their respective regions.
Conroy, the newly appointed BDM for New South Wales, has over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial lending, having worked with major banks, credit unions, and mortgage originators. His expertise lies in building strong industry partnerships that drive growth and collaboration.
He aims to help brokers leverage Funding’s innovative short-term finance products to better serve their clients.
For the Queensland and Northern Territory market, Valenzuela brings 13 years of experience in business funding, asset finance, and insurance to her role as BDM. Her focus will be on nurturing relationships with brokers and referrers across the state, ensuring they have access to tailored finance solutions.
“For all your private lending needs, don’t hesitate to call me,” she told her followers on LinkedIn.
These appointments come as Funding experiences significant growth.
The company was recently named one of MPA’s Top Mortgage Employers for 2024 and an Australian Broker 2023 5-Star Mortgage Innovator.
Funding has also been shortlisted for FinTech Lender of the Year at the upcoming Australian Mortgage Awards in October after being nominated for the award in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
Funding’s head of sales and partnerships, Chris Maamoun (pictured centre right), emphasised the importance of broker relationships in the company’s growth strategy, stating that there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing your clients praise your work as a broker.
“That’s why we’ve grown our team to eight—to make sure we continue providing a great experience by prioritizing brokers and their clients with transparent, fast, and seamless support to help them move their deals forward faster.”
As Australia faces property shortages and rising prices and with major banks exiting the niche segment since the Royal Commission, bridging loans are coming back into fashion.
Bridging loans suit several types of buyers, particularly those who need to move quickly.
Whether it be upsizers, downsizers, or those looking to seize on a fleeting opportunity, buyers often encounter situations where they need funds before their current property sale is finalised.
Jack O’Reilly (pictured far right), CEO & founder of Funding, remarked on the company’s vision.
“At Funding, we are reshaping financial services so more Australian borrowers can get ahead sooner,” O’Reilly said.
“Expanding our national BDM team enables us to meet the increasing demand for our tech-enabled bridging, business, and building loan solutions.”
