Movers & Shakers

Bluestone Home Loans appoints head of strategic partnerships

Bluestone Home Loans has appointed Paul Bakker as its new head of strategic partnerships.

Bakker, who commenced in the role on 7 October, takes responsibility for strengthening Bluestone’s relationships with aggregator partners, enhancing broker education initiatives, and identifying new market opportunities.

He brings more than 20 years of experience across both banks and non-bank lenders, having begun his career at Westpac in 2006, where he served as state general manager for NSW and the ACT in third-party distribution.

Tony MacRae, Bluestone chief commercial officer, said the appointment reflected a deliberate step in the specialist lender’s growth plans.

“Paul brings deep expertise and long-standing aggregator relationships, with a proven record of driving growth through collaboration and insight. His leadership will help us elevate the broker experience and accelerate Bluestone’s growth in the non-bank space,” he said.

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Former lender CEO joins PEXA

DIGITAL SETTLEMENT platform and technology business PEXA has announced the appointment of Kylie Waldock, former CEO of personal lender MoneyPlace, as its new chief customer and commercial officer.

Waldock has extensive experience across banking and financial services. She held senior roles at Bank First, serving as acting chief operating officer and head of lending operations from 2020–22, and at ME Bank as general manager, operations excellence, from 2018–20.

At NAB, she spent 24 years in a variety of roles, including head of operations and strategy execution (2017–18), head of migrant banking (2016–17), and head of product management – lenders mortgage insurance (2016–17).

In her new position, Waldock will focus on strengthening PEXA’s relationships across its ecosystem, drawing on her experience in partnerships, lending, and commercial leadership and ensuring that customers remain central to PEXA’s strategy.

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Pallas Capital welcomes 2 senior appointments

Specialist non-bank lender Pallas Capital has made two strategic appointments to boost origination and broker engagement.

Joseph John (JJ) Mills (pictured) has joined as director, origination, focusing on expanding broker and borrower relationships. Mills was previously investment director at YSC Partners, where he sourced and structured mid-market property transactions along Australia’s eastern seaboard, including construction loans, land finance, and residual stock facilities.

Meanwhile, Portia Ridley has joined Pallas Capital’s Melbourne office as senior business development & aggregator partnerships manager. She was formerly state manager and senior business development manager at ORDE Financial, where she helped launch a full product suite spanning residential, commercial, SMSF, and development finance.

Pallas Capital said the appointments reinforce its commitment to delivering “fast, flexible lending solutions.”

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Troy Fedder becomes head of proprietary lending at ANZ

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has appointed Troy Fedder, previously executive general manager (EGM) of home lending at Suncorp Bank, to the role of general manager, proprietary lending.

Fedder brings extensive experience in the mortgages sector, particularly within the broker channel. He was promoted to EGM of home lending at Suncorp Bank in November 2023, after three years as head of broker partnerships.

His career includes senior roles at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, including EGM for strategic partnerships and EGM for home buying and strategic portfolio management, as well as leadership positions at Westpac in first-party distribution and regional management.

Fedder said on LinkedIn: “I’ve had an amazing journey with Suncorp Bank and I’m leaving with so many wonderful memories from the past five years. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey, I’m grateful for the support and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”