PEOPLE

MASSEY MOVES FORWARD FROM AVANTI

Avanti's long-serving head of distribution has decided to leave the firm. But at the age of 50, Stephen Massey says he wants to “take a break” for a month before looking round for his next challenge. Massey says he is leaving the company in good heart. “Avanti's loan portfolio has just crossed the $2 billion dollar mark,” he said. An Avanti spokesperson said Massey was well-loved and had done a great job for the company. “He just wants to re-evaluate what he is doing with his life after 19 years, as a lot of us do.” There are also three new appointments to the Avanti property group: Michael Harrison, Julia Winterbottom and Tammy Stitt.

LOAN MARKET CEO MOVES ON

Loan Market chief executive Amanda Savill taken on a new role. She has been appointed chief executive of PIC Insurance Brokers, following the death of the group's founder, Mike Garner, in March this year. PIC Insurance Brokers is one of the largest New Zealand-owned insurance brokerages in the country. Having grown from a team of two at its foundation more than 30 years ago, PIC has an 80-strong team with expertise across all lines of insurance and offices nationwide. Pepper Money has appointed a new country head for New Zealand, with Michelle Sargeant heading back to Australia. Campbell Smith steps into the role. Previously he was director and country manager at LeasePlan, prior to which he worked at organisations including Turners Automotive, Westpac, and Deloitte. He has been an executive committee member of the Financial Services Federation – New Zealand’s non-bank industry body and lobby group. Pepper Money chief executive Mario Rehayem said the new appointment marked an exciting new chapter. “I look forward to working with Campbell to ensure we continue to grow our presence and extend our reach in the New Zealand market.” Current national sales manage Michelle Sargeant will relocate to the Australian market following a successful four years based in Auckland. She established Pepper Money in New Zealand and returns to the Australian market to take up the role of Head of Sales Operations.

MORTGAGE EXPRESS GETS A NEW BUT FAMILIAR BOSS

Mortgage Express has appointed a new chief executive, Sarah Johnston, following the departure of David Gopperth. Mortgage Express operates under an FAP licence held by Astute Financial. It is owned by real estate firm Harcourts. “Sarah Johnston is the perfect choice for our Mortgage Express leadership role,” said a senior Harcourts executive, Jo Clifford. Johnston earlier worked for 18 years at Mortgage Express, and continues in her role as Astute CEO. “My role at Astute hasn’t changed. If anything, it complements the role I’ll be taking on at Mortgage Express,” said Johnston.

FIND OUT MORE tmmonline.nz FORMER WESTPAC EXEC TO HEAD UP NZHL

Kiwi Group Holdings-owned NZ Home Loans has appointed a former Westpac executive as its new chief executive. Kip Hanna replaces Aaron Skilton, who left to head up Liberty and Mike Pero. Hanna has returned to New Zealand after serving as the chief executive of Westpac Fiji. Acting NZHL chair Monique Cairns says Hanna will add strength, leadership and future focus to the helm of an already high-performing leadership team. “We believe he can successfully take NZHL and its unique network of 70 locally owned businesses, servicing more than 20,000 clients right across New Zealand, into its next phase.” Hanna says he is looking forward to getting out across the country in the coming months, to meet the company’s network of business owners and teams - “as well as many clients as I can on the way around.”