Australian fintech platform Lendi Group, parent company to the Aussie and Lendi brands, has promoted Devesh Maheshwari (pictured) to chief technology officer as it fast-tracks its transition to become an AI-native business by June 2026.
The move comes as AI reshapes mortgage advice, with research showing most brokers are adopting AI tools while consumers still prefer human guidance and rely on advisers to fact-check “hallucinations” and cut through AI “slop”.
In his expanded role, Maheshwari will lead technology strategy across the Aussie and Lendi brands, overseeing the Group’s AI platform, engineering, architecture, and cyber security. He will also guide the ongoing evolution of Lendi Group’s end-to-end property and home loan platform as the business scales.
“Devesh has deep technical knowledge and is a natural connector of people, product and strategy,” said Sebastian Watkins, who will take on the role of Lendi Group CEO effective 1 January. “He’s been a champion for the group, driving innovation, and we’re proud to see that technical strength represented in our executive leadership team.
“Technology has always been at the core of our business, and more so now than ever, as we transition to become an AI-native business. Devesh has played a pivotal role in that journey so far and will continue to be a key influencer inside and outside the business as we build the next generation of our platform for brokers, partners and customers.”
An experienced CIO and CTO, Maheshwari is an executive-level leader, strategist, and technologist who is passionate about business value creation through technology, innovation, and modern delivery practices. He has led successful cultural and technology transformations in highly regulated industries, with a proven track record leading teams that deliver business value. Most recently, Devesh served as general manager of technology.
“I'm honoured to step into the CTO role at such a transformative time for Lendi Group,” Maheshwari said. “Our vision to become AI-native by mid-2026 isn't just about adopting new technology, it's about fundamentally reimagining how we create value for brokers, partners, and customers.
“We're building an intelligent platform that anticipates needs, streamlines complexity, and empowers everyone in the property and home loan journey. I'm excited to work alongside our talented teams to turn this vision into reality, while maintaining the security and reliability our customers depend on.”
Maheshwari's promotion comes just weeks after the group revealed that Co-founder Sebastian Watkins, who is currently acting as chief operating officer at Lendi Group, will take over as head honcho of the company in January, replacing current CEO David Hyman. The company said Hyman, who is also a cofounder, will continue as a board director and special advisor of Lendi Group, focusing on company growth and artificial intelligence.
Watkins and Hyman cofounded Lendi in 2013. The firm merged with Aussie Home Loans in May 2021 to become the Lendi Group.
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Kellie Ell contributed to this article.
