Non-bank mortgage lender MKM has appointed Melanie de Jager as its new national head of sales.
De Jager (pictured) has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector in Australia and the Middle East. She joins the non-bank lender in a new growth phase after its shareholder MA Financial recently acquired full ownership of MKM.
“Melanie brings to MKM a broad and demonstrated background in leading multichannel sales and service teams and has executed major business expansions in both Australia and the Middle East, primarily in mortgages and related financial products in the broking industry,” said MKM chief operating officer Russell Nelms.
Nelms describes de Jager as a people-focused leader who consistently strives and delivers business performance.
“Her move comes as the MKM business enters a new growth phase in its transition to become a major player in the non-bank mortgage market,” he said.
Read more: MA Financial Group acquires lender MKM
Nelms said de Jager not only has a wealth of lending experience within Australia and abroad, she also has extensive credit and underwriting experience along with sales management experience.
De Jager was head of credit and business development manager at Westpac in Perth before joining Commonwealth Bank in Sydney.
She then moved to the Middle East to start up the first mortgage brokerage in Dubai before assuming the responsibility of senior vice president, sales and distribution at Mubadala Investment Company subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Finance.
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“Melanie was instrumental in the development of the real estate, mortgage and SME sectors in the United Arab Emirates post the GFC and executed the company’s overall strategy to diversify Abu Dhabi’s economy, accelerating its growth to exceed the UAE government’s long-term vision and strategy,” Nelms said.
“We look forward to her contribution to the growth of MKM, which includes the upcoming launch of new products to broaden the range of solutions for brokers.”
De Jager said she was delighted to be joining MKM at such an exciting time in the company’s history.
“I am also looking forward to working with and leveraging the capability of the amazing team we have behind us at MA Financial to position MKM as the lender of choice in the non-bank market,” she said.
