PEOPLE

FMT makes two key appointments

First Mortgage Trust has appointed Sam Burgess as its new head of lending.

Chief executive Paul Bendall says this is a newly created role, overseeing the lending side of the business.

“Sam comes to us with over 15 years’ experience in the banking industry bringing a wealth of knowledge and skills with him.”

Burgess has spent nearly 16 years with ASB, most recently as head of major commercial, following a number of other property finance roles at the bank.

In his latest role, he was responsible for developing a portfolio which caters for the finance requirements of professional property investors and developers.

First Mortgage Trust has also announced the appointment of Roger Ford to the role of chief financial officer. Ford has been with the company for nearly 10 years as financial controller.

Bendall says the two new appointments come as the company continues to grow, building on more than 25 years of providing investments and property finance to New Zealanders.

“The introduction of these roles reflects the changing needs of the business and will strengthen the strategic focus of the business as we continue to grow.”

Chen Wang Petra Ensor

Westpac adds two business development managers

Westpac has seen some changes to its business development team, with two new appointments.

Chen Wang is taking over the Auckland region, and the Waikato/Bay of Plenty will become the domain of Petra Ensor.

Westpac’s head of third party, Liz Cannon, says both new BDMs have strong relationship and credit knowledge skills, and are “looking forward to forming great partnerships with the mortgage advisers in their respective areas.”

Wang has been with Westpac for nearly seven years, mostly as a mobile mortgage manager. Prior to that he was a home lending specialist at ANZ, and earlier a mortgage adviser with Squirrel.

Bluestone beefs up

Bluestone has doubled its sales team with two new appointments.

The most recent is Joshua Martin, who comes from Pepper Money to the role of new business development manager for Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo and South Auckland.

He previously covered the Bay of Plenty and Wellington regions.

Martin has more than seven years of experience in the mortgage advice sector as part of the Lifetime Group, where he worked from 2013-22, and also worked as a real estate agent for Eves.

Monique Riley is the company’s other new business development manager; she is Auckland-based.

Bluestone has also grown its credit assessment team with the appointments of Maria Gomez, Lucia Patterson, Mitch Tatterson and Cindy Sun.

Training provider adds to team

Kaplan Professional and Massey University have continued to strengthen their presence in the financial services education market by making a key appointment.

The university and training provider formed a partnership in late 2020 with the release of the Certificate in Financial Advice (Certificate in Financial Services Level 5, Version 2). Growth in enrolments among New Zealand’s financial advice community has now seen Colleen La Touche appointed to the newly-created role of head of business development with Kaplan Professional. La Touche has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years, progressing through financial adviser support roles before becoming a financial adviser specialising in life, health and disability insurance.

She formed her own business, Valour Financial Specialists, which she later sold in 2021.

La Touche says she has always wanted to play a greater role in the evolution and professionalism of the industry.

“I have always believed in the power of education and how important it is – both the technical aspect and practical application – in being a great adviser.

“I am very passionate about the industry as a whole and know from personal experience the fundamental role an adviser plays in a client’s financial well-being when a curveball or life event arises.” ✚