Non-bank lender Pepper Money has announced a series of new appointments aimed at enhancing support for brokers in Victoria.
In the first four months since the appointment of Adam Croucher as the new state manager, Pepper Money has focused on building its Victorian team’s capabilities to address the evolving needs of brokers in a competitive and changing lending environment.
Croucher said that his goal since joining Pepper Money was to "handpick a new team to help set Victoria up for success."
He highlighted Pepper Money’s broad range of customer solutions as a key factor that attracted him to the company and saw his role as an opportunity to utilise his skills to their fullest.
As part of this strategy, Pepper Money has appointed four new business development managers (BDMs) to its Victorian team.
These appointments are intended to provide brokers with the tools, expertise, and support needed to navigate complex scenarios and address their clients' diverse needs.
The new BDMs bring a range of industry experience and expertise to Pepper Money's Victorian operations:
With a background in broking from Compare Club and NAB, Gatt (pictured far left) is expected to leverage his understanding of brokers’ needs to enhance service delivery and support within the team.
Nicholas (pictured centre left) brings 20 years of experience from CBA and NAB in relationship management, direct sales, and third-party banking. Her background in credit policy, loan structuring, and broker education is expected to benefit brokers in Victoria.
Ranathunga (pictured centre right), who has spent 2.5 years within Pepper Money’s internal credit team, brings knowledge of the company's products and credit policies. His expertise in deal structuring and scenario assessment is expected to assist brokers.
With 19 years of credit experience at CBA and Rabobank, Singh’s background in residential and commercial lending will provide brokers with additional guidance and tailored solutions.Singh is pictured above, far right.
Croucher noted that education and training will be a key focus for the Victorian team this year.
The comments come amid a contracting market in Victoria.
However, Melbourne’s weaker price momentum can be attributed to a higher supply of available listings, giving buyers more choices and reducing upward pressure on prices, according to PropTrack.
“The lending environment is constantly changing, and it’s crucial that we help our brokers navigate our systems and processes efficiently,” Croucher said.
“We cannot assume that brokers have the time to stay on top of every change, so we must play our part in keeping them informed and supported."
Looking ahead, Croucher views diversification as a key opportunity for brokers in Victoria, aiming to unlock further potential growth.
"Whether it's commercial, SMSF, asset finance, or personal loans, being able to offer a wide range of products and options will be essential for brokers to maintain strong and lasting relationships with their clients,” he said.
"At Pepper Money, we offer a depth of products and policies coupled with our dedicated BDMs and support teams to ensure the needs of our brokers and their clients are met."
Croucher outlined his priorities as focusing on delivering expertise, timely responses, and a clear strategy for growth.
"Growing the team in Victoria organically and being clear on our strategy will be critical to our success. I’m excited by the diverse experience in my team, which I see as a competitive advantage in providing service to our brokers," he said.
These initiatives follow Pepper Money’s recent partnership with Treasury Corporation Victoria (TCV) to administer the Commercial and Industrial Property Tax (CIPT) Transition Loan Program, as well as several broker events held across the state.
Pepper Money was also recently recognised as the MFAA’s Specialty Lender of the Year for the ninth consecutive year.
"We are committed to growing our presence in Victoria and providing support to brokers," Croucher said. "Our new appointments and strategic initiatives reflect our dedication to maintaining our status as a leading specialty lender."
