FBAA appoints inaugural national commercial and asset manager

Ms Tocco, an experienced finance broker and a former board member of the Commercial and Asset Finance Brokers Association (CAFBA), has joined the FBAA to spearhead its move to offer more specialised support to finance brokers.

The new FBAA national commercial and asset manager has worked in the SME finance space for the past eight years, having run her own brokerage Loanezi and having previously worked as a regional manager for SME lender Prospa.

According to the FBAA, the appointment “will send a decisive message to the market that the FBAA is the voice for all brokers.”

FBAA managing director Peter White AM noted that the association already has around 3,000 members writing a form of business finance and is therefore claiming to be “the leading national association representing commercial and asset finance brokers”.

“It’s time commercial and asset brokers had a choice of an association that can better meet their needs,” Mr White said.

Speaking of the new appointment, the FBAA MD said that Ms Tocco was well-regarded across the sector and would bring the expertise needed to expand the range of professional development initiatives, education, and support offered by the FBAA.

“Renee is passionate about commercial and asset finance and will be a great mentor to many emerging brokers in this market,” he said.

Mr White added that the appointment is part of the FBAA’s objective to provide new pathways and opportunities for members in an ever-changing market.

“We will be working closely with lenders and aggregators in this area of finance to help them understand the highest level of training we already have – and will further develop – and to ensure that our members have full access to all products,” he said.

Speaking of her new role, Ms Tocco said: “Almost a third of brokers are now writing business lending products of some sort.

“Many are diversified brokers and some are resolute and focused on commercial or asset finance.

“I am proud to not only represent and advocate for them but as part of the FBAA, to help other brokers future-proof their businesses by offering diversified products.”

She continued that brokers “need an association where they are embraced and supported through education and ethics and I am excited not only be helping with this, but joining an industry association with such a member-focused strategic direction”.

[Related: Renee Tocco buys back Loanezi from Prospa]