Login
ISCOVER
The aggregator has hired two new regional managers as it ramps up preparations for its launch into residential and commercial aggregation.
Asset finance aggregator Viking Aggregation, which was launched in November 2023 by Nationwise Group, has welcomed two new appointments to help manage its expansion into residential and commercial aggregation.
Pat Clarkson has joined the team as regional manager, residential and commercial for NSW/ACT while Scott Unicomb has been named regional manager, residential for Queensland. Both appointments were effective from 1 July.
Clarkson – who has more than 30 years of experience in lending and broking – was most recently a business development manager at non-bank lender LSH Credit Australia, working with brokers.
He also has 10 years of experience as a partnerships manager in aggregation, having worked at LMG (and FAST, prior to its acquisition by LMG) between 2013 and 2023, where he supported around 100 broking businesses and their teams.
Clarkson said he was drawn to Viking as he believed the team shared his “dedication to help brokers build their businesses”.
“Working in aggregation for me is more than a role; it’s my passion. Every day, I leverage my knowledge, relationship skills and experience to add value to my brokers,” Clarkson said.
“I’ve joined Viking as I know they share my dedication to help brokers build their businesses, and I know we can deliver on that.”
Unicomb, meanwhile, has more than 35 years of experience in financial services, including in lending and broking (having formerly been a broker himself).
He was most recently the regional sales manager, Queensland/Western Australia for Bluestone Home Loans and has previous experience in partnership/business development roles at ANZ, Macquarie, and First Australian Building Society, among other lending institutions.
Speaking of his move to Viking, Unicomb said he was excited about being able to coach brokers and “assist them in obtaining their short- and long-term business goals by driving sustainable and profitable growth”.
“I’m joining Viking because I’m joining a great team,” he said, noting he’d worked with several of the team members before (such as James Angus, while at Bluestone) and also emphasising the group’s commitment to “service delivery and business growth for brokers”.
Viking Resi and Commercial offering expected by Q4
Welcoming the new appointments, Rob Ryan, chief operating officer and company secretary at Nationwise Group, said: “We are assembling an exceptional team to support our brokers, and I’m thrilled to welcome Pat and Scott aboard as we gear up to launch our residential and commercial offerings.
“Their expertise will be instrumental in our success.”
The new appointments in NSW and Queensland come as Viking prepares to launch its residential and commercial aggregation offerings, spearheaded by James Angus (general manager, Viking Residential) and Cath Ryan (general manager, Viking Commercial).
It is expected that the residential and commercial offerings will be live by the end of September 2024.
Angus said on the new appointments: “Scott, Pat and Terry are ideal leaders for our aggregation teams in NSW and QLD. With their extensive experience in the broker industry and stellar reputations, they are well-equipped to help us achieve our growth goals.
“I am really looking excited to work alongside them.”
Ryan said: “Scott and Pat’s deep understanding of the financial services industry and their track record in delivering best-in-breed broker support will be invaluable in ensuring Viking Aggregation helps our brokers achieve and exceed their goals.”
Clarkson and Unicomb join the existing Viking asset finance aggregation team, which includes:
- Terry Scott (regional manager, asset finance & commercial, Queensland/the Northern Territory).
- Wade Collins (regional manager, asset finance, Victoria).
- Lisa Doolan (regional manager, asset finance, NSW/the ACT).
- Luke Osborne (BDM asset finance, NSW/the ACT/Queensland).
- Kylie Swaine (BDM, asset finance, Victoria/Tasmania/South Australia/Western Australia).
Viking Aggregation’s parent company Nationwise Group also recently appointed Adrian Cunningham as its first chief customer and information officer, where he will spearhead the company’s technology roadmap, focusing on technology enablement to provide data insights for Viking’s brokers that will help grow their businesses.
[Related: Viking Aggregation expands into residential and commercial]
JOIN THE DISCUSSION