Login
ISCOVER
The aggregator has welcomed a new head of asset finance and additional team support to bolster its broker support offering.
Aggregation group LMG has appointed a new head of asset finance for its Loan Market & Partner channels and boosted its sales support structure within the team.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
Liz Somers, the former head of growth and distribution at AFG’s asset finance aggregation brand Fintelligence, has joined LMG in the new position of head of asset finance, Loan Market & Partner.
Somers has more than 10 years of experience in the broker space, including having been the head of growth at specialist lender Finance One and as a manager for broker experience and support at aggregation group Finsure and brokerage brand Mortgage Advice Bureau. She also spent six years working at financial services company Pioneer Credit, where she helped establish their broking arm.
Her new executive position – which reports to Tom Caesar (LMG’s group executive – asset finance) – will see Somers “spearhead efforts to enhance broker growth across the asset finance space”.
Working alongside Ryan Greaney (LMG’s head of sales & aggregation – asset finance), Somers will be responsible for driving further growth for the aggregator’s asset finance offerings available to Loan Market-branded brokers and broker members aggregating via the Partner service plan.
Commenting on the new hire, Caesar said: “Last year, we set ambitious targets to support brokers in the asset finance aggregation space, particularly through the launch of our asset finance service plans, which provided brokers with tech, marketing, and support resources.
“This year, we’re focused on delivering on those promises while continuing to grow our asset finance and diversified businesses.
“Liz brings extensive experience supporting businesses to grow their asset finance portfolio and will bring immense value to the LMG broker network.”
Additional personnel changes in the asset finance team include the promotion of Michael Marafiote (LMG’s former business success manager for Victoria/Tasmania/Queensland) to growth manager for Victoria/Tasmania/South Australia/the Northern Territory.
Marafiote has worked at LMG for the past three years and was previously a broker.
In his new role, which reports to Greaney), Marafiote will be tasked with supporting recruitment in the southern states.
Greaney said Marafiote’s promotion was “a logical appointment” given that he is “a familiar and trusted presence across our broker network, having worked closely with [LMG’s] asset finance businesses over the past two years.”
“His background as a broker, coupled with a thorough understanding of our value proposition, makes him uniquely positioned to help new recruits see how LMG can support their business growth,” Greaney said.
Meanwhile, Abigael Shepherd has rejoined LMG Asset Finance as a broker success manager for Victoria/Tasmania/South Australia/the NT, following a year out working as an asset finance broker at an Adelaide-based brokerage. She had previously been a business development manager at LMG’s asset finance arm.
Caesar said: “Abbie knows our business well and the fact that she’s been a broker herself, provides her with a deep understanding of the support our broker partners need.”
All appointments were effective as of Monday (13 January).
LMG said the larger sales and support structure within its asset finance team strengthen the group’s asset finance strategy heading into 2025, which includes a commitment to meeting the rising demand for asset finance solutions.
In addition to these changes, LMG recently added personal lender MONEYME to its lender panel, further expanding the options available to brokers and their clients across both the consumer and commercial asset space.
[Related: LMG adds MONEYME to lending panel]
JOIN THE DISCUSSION