Non-bank lender Banjo Loans has appointed Ryan Knight as head of sales, tapping the former National Australia Bank executive to lead its push for stronger third-party distribution and broader national reach.
Knight brings more than a decade of SME banking experience to the role, with his most recent position at NAB overseeing business banking teams across southeast Melbourne. His background spans credit assessment, deal structuring, and aggregator origination — experience Banjo says aligns closely with its current strategic direction.
For brokers, Knight's most immediate priority is presence.
"Brokers are critical to Banjo's growth strategy," he said.
Knight’s plan centres on increasing the visibility and consistency of Banjo's business development team, expanding its aggregator footprint, and ensuring the lending process remains frictionless from lodgement to settlement.
He points to a structural gap in the market that Banjo is positioned to fill.
"There's a clear gap between traditional bank processes and what SMEs need," Knight said. "Banjo sits in that space where we can move quickly, be flexible on structure and still deliver strong outcomes."
A key differentiator he singles out is the direct accessibility of Banjo's credit team — a practical detail that will resonate with brokers managing tight client timelines.
"Our credit team is directly engaged. They'll pick up the phone, work through scenarios and help get deals done," Knight said.
The appointment follows Banjo's hire of former Wells Fargo and GE Capital executive Simon Beckett as chairman in April, with CEO Guy Callaghan telling Australian Broker that anticipated growth would "mainly come from brokers."
Callaghan reinforced that view in welcoming Knight.
"Ryan understands the broker channel and the SME customer inside out," he said, adding that Knight's leadership would help the business scale its distribution capability without sacrificing service quality.
Knight, who began his career during the Global Financial Crisis and has also supported family-run SMEs in the creative and beverage sectors, says the opportunity to build on existing momentum was central to his decision to join.
"The foundations are already there. Banjo is made up of good, highly capable people and it has a clear niche and a growing brand," he said.
Since launching in 2015, Banjo Loans has deployed nearly $1 billion in loans to Australian SMEs, with the majority of its repeat clients recording average revenue growth of 25% after partnering with the lender.
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