Advertisement
Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
lawyers weekly logo
Lender

Peter Vala announces ‘semi-retirement’

by Annie Kane7 minute read

Long-serving Thinktank executive Peter Vala has announced he will be moving into “semi-retirement” at the end of the month.

Following a 42-year career in finance and 12 years with non-bank lender Thinktank, Vala has announced he will semi-retire on 31 March.

Thinktank’s Property Finance’s general manager of growth and strategy will transition into semi-retirement over the next few weeks, taking a step back from full-time employment to “pursue targeted engagements”.

Vala has had a long career in banking and finance, spanning numerous roles across major and non-major financial institutions including ANZ, St.George, ME Bank, and BNZA (NAB).

 
 

He joined Thinktank in June 2013 and has, over that time, played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory and building its book.

The lender said that over his tenure at the non-bank, Vala had helped drive its expansion from $600 million in aggregate lending to $13.5 billion today.

He has also been a passionate mentor and coach, having educated hundreds of industry professionals on mortgage and commercial lending through countless events, webinars, and public speaking engagements.

Thinktank said his leadership had been “key in building and developing a dedicated team of relationship managers and fostering incredibly strong connections with aggregator partners”, including the initiation and development of multiple white label partnerships.

Thinktank CEO Jonathan Street acknowledged Vala’s legacy, saying: “Pete’s drive, ethics and leadership have been instrumental in making Thinktank the company it is today.

“Looking back on the past 12 years, it’s truly remarkable to see how far we’ve come and how well-positioned we are for what lies ahead. As Pete embarks on his next chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude for his many invaluable contributions, including over the last year in focusing on growth and strategy opportunities while managing the smooth handover to new leadership.”

Reflecting on his journey, Vala said it had been “an absolute pleasure and a true blessing to work alongside so many incredible people in this industry”.

“I sincerely hope the future remains bright for all,” the outgoing general manager of growth and strategy said.

“A heartfelt thank you to Thinktank for the past 12 years and the opportunity to contribute to its success. I am also deeply grateful to my past employers for their guidance and the many opportunities that have influenced my career."

Street confirmed that Belinda Wright, who was last year promoted to the role of head of partnerships and distribution, will take over from Vala.

He said that Wright had already been leading the commercial and residential sales team alongside aggregator partnerships, closely supported by Joel Harrison, the national manager for commercial partnerships.

“Belinda has consistently demonstrated exceptional capability, and will no doubt continue to build on the great foundations laid by Pete that will strengthen relationships and elevate the business further,” the Thinktank CEO said.

[Related: Thinktank appoints new head of distribution]

peter vala thinktank ta egll

AUTHOR

Annie Kane is the managing editor of Momentum's mortgage broking title, The Adviser.

As well as leading the editorial strategy, Annie writes news and features about the Australian broking industry, the mortgage market, financial regulation, fintechs and the wider lending landscape.

She is also the host of the Elite Broker, New Broker, Mortgage & Finance Leader, Women in Finance and In Focus podcasts and The Adviser Live webcasts. 

Annie regularly emcees industry events and awards, such as the Better Business Summit, the Women in Finance Summit as well as other industry events.

Prior to joining The Adviser in 2016, Annie wrote for The Guardian Australia and had a speciality in sustainability.

She has also had her work published in several leading consumer titles, including Elle (Australia) magazine, BBC Music, BBC History and Homes & Antiques magazines.  

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member for free today!
magazine
Read the latest issue of The Adviser magazine!
The Adviser is the number one magazine for Australia's finance and mortgage brokers. The publications delivers news, analysis, business intelligence, sales and marketing strategies, research and key target reports to an audience of professional mortgage and finance brokers
Read more
You have 0 free articles left this month.
Register for a free account to access unlimited free content, or become a PREMIUM MEMBER to enjoy a wide range of benefits