IAN ROBINSON AND BRAD SEWELL Directors Robinson Sewell Partners
In regional Australia, Robinson Sewell Partners are finance heavyweights. Ian Robinson Brad Sewell Routinely driving from Victoria to the NSW Riverina and up into central Queensland, they help family owned agricultural businesses get a better deal with the bank. Agribusiness is a $258bn industry, yet agribusiness brokers have until now kept a low profile. This year saw the duo’s broking talent begin to be recognised beyond dedicated regional awards: they were named best brokerage with two to five loan writers in this year’s MFAA National Excellence Awards.
UDAY SAREEN CEO ING DIRECT
Uday Sareen’s arrival at ING DIRECT heralds, according to the man himself, “chapter two of our franchise in Australia”. Sareen made it clear early on that he is looking to build upon ING’s traditional strengths in savings and mortgages and double the number of primary bank customers. Whether or not you believe that’s possible, Sareen joins at a pivotal moment for the bank. ING accounted for 5.2% of lending in AFG’s September competition index, putting it far ahead of other non-majors. With a background in the crowded German and Indian banking markets, Sareen has the experience to take market share from the big banks in the mortgage space. That’s assuming ING doesn’t slip up: poor turnaround times or rapid policy changes could easily alienate brokers.
MHAIRI MACLEOD Principal Astute Ability Finance
Highly commended at the AMAs, a finalist at the MFAA’s awards and a small business champion, it’s clear that Mhairi Macleod and her Central Coast brokerage are a serious operation. Astute Ability Finance is unusual in that it started in the asset finance space, financing niche items such as horse floats, and brings a new perspective to the diversification debate. Yet broking is just a fraction of the work that MacLeod does: working with the MFAA’s WIMBN panel, she has emerged as a leading advocate and example for both community outreach and female brokers. That includes speaking at schools and running financial literacy sessions at the MFAA’s Global Money Week initiative. MacLeod now advises other brokers how they can get involved in community work.
MARK CHURCHILL Director Allfin Financial Services
Kubio is a cloud-based commercial lending platform that brings much needed efficiencies to the commercial broking channel, including pre-populating application forms with data, tracking applications, and matching clients with their local commercial broker. Unusually, it’s been developed by brokers themselves: Dominic Lo Surdo of Stamford Capital, Brian Kelly of BKK Finance, Alastair Philp of Heritage Property Finance and Mark Churchill (pictured) of Allfin Financial Services, and backed by Macquarie Bank. It’s available to all commercial brokers and is a hugely encouraging development in making lending software more broker-driven.
www.mpamagazine.com.au
20-31_Hotlist Subbed.indd 31
31
22/11/2016 1:16:52 PM