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One of Australia’s largest aggregators has promoted its COO to head up the business.
Loan Market Group has appointed industry veteran Ewen Stafford as executive director and CEO, effective immediately.
The move builds on Loan Market Group’s decision in October 2024 to distinguish Loan Market and LMG as separate businesses, aimed at ensuring each delivers specialised support for brokers.
At the time, two CEO positions were created; one to lead the brokerage brand (Loan Market - headed up by David McQueen) and another to head up the wholesale aggregation offerings under LMG.
LMG said Stafford’s appointment was the next step in this strategy, aimed at sharpening LMG’s leadership structure to drive growth, investment and innovation.
In his new role, Stafford will lead LMG’s residential, commercial and asset finance aggregation businesses, overseeing key aggregation functions.
His first priorities will be increasing investment in broker support, technology and growth efforts.
LMG noted Stafford's important leadership role in expanding broker support and improving tech since joining as executive director and COO in 2022.
He also brings governance experience from his time as non-executive director on the Loan Market board between 2015 and 2018.
The LMG CEO has more than 35 years working across finance, consulting, tech and logistics, and has led transformation and growth projects in senior roles at Bank of Queensland (BOQ), Deloitte, Telstra, Australia Post, NAB, Colliers, and KPMG.
The rest of LMG’s leadership team remains unchanged.
Rob Thomas continues to lead LMG Residential, Steve Scahill is Commercial Finance & State Director for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and Tom Caesar continues to lead Asset Finance.
David McQueen continues as CEO of Loan Market, including partner businesses, responsible for the group’s brokerage strategy.
Sam White will continue as executive chairman of LMG, focusing on business growth, tech and innovation, and investment across the broader group.
Announcing the new LMG CEO, White said: “Ewen has been at the heart of shaping LMG’s strategy, and now, as executive director and CEO, LMG, he’ll ensure we keep accelerating, investing in the right areas, and delivering more ways for brokers to grow.”
White reiterated LMG’s broader vision: “Last year, we set out to clarify Loan Market and LMG as distinct businesses, designed to better serve brokers. Appointing Ewen as CEO of LMG is the next step in that vision - ensuring brokers have the focus, leadership, and support they need to grow outstanding businesses.”
The momentum we’ve built over the past four years has opened up even more opportunities - new markets, new technology, and new ways to support brokers.
With Ewen leading LMG and David McQueen leading Loan Market, we’ve got the right leadership in place to drive broker success today - and accelerate our growth,” he said.
Speaking about his new role as LMG CEO, Stafford commented: “LMG has always been about helping brokers grow, and that’s exactly where my focus will be.
“This builds on everything we’ve been working towards - expanding the opportunities for brokers across residential, commercial, and asset finance, while continuing to invest in the best tech, security and support,” he added.
“We’re pushing the boundaries and continue investing in what matters most to brokers - so they’re set up to win, now and in the future.”
[Related: LMG announces CEO changes]
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