Pepper Money is expanding its team down in Victoria as it gears up to celebrate 25 years in the industry and grow its commercial lending arm.
The non-bank lender has hired seasoned mortgage industry expert Nick Green as southern regional manager for Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Melbourne-based Green, who begins the new role on Monday, replaces Adam Croucher, who was recently hired by Westpac.
Green – who most recently hails from non-bank lender Podium Money, as head of distribution and partnerships – comes with more than 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, across residential and commercial lending, aggregation and brokering. His résumé also includes stints at ANZ, Commonwealth Bank (CBA), Oak Capital, ING Australia, and Advantedge Financial Services, among others.
At Pepper, Green has been tasked with growing partnerships between brokers and aggregators.
“Nick’s leadership experience across distribution, aggregation and strategic partnerships makes him a fantastic fit to lead our southern region into its next chapter," said Barry Saoud, general manager, mortgages and commercial lending at Pepper. "Nick’s intimate understanding of commercial lending is especially valuable as Pepper Money strategically positions itself on this rapidly expanding market," Saoud said. "His appointment reflects a deliberate focus on growing Pepper Money’s presence in commercial lending alongside its strong residential offering, ensuring brokers and clients benefit from tailored solutions in both sectors."
Australia’s commercial finance sector is expanding, opening up new income avenues for both brokers and lenders. In fact, business lending rose 8.8% in the year to January 2025, reaching $1.21 trillion, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Beyond driving revenue growth, Green noted there is "enormous potential for brokers across the region."
Pepper has also brought on Melbourne-based Vince Gaggiano as senior business development manager. Gaggiano steps into his new role at Pepper on 18 August, bringing more than 27 years of experience in banking and broker relationships. His award-winning career includes senior posts at MyLoan and Advantedge.
“We’re thrilled to welcome both Nick and Vince to our growing team in Victoria," Saoud said. "Our team of state managers, BDMs and relationship managers play a critical role in ensuring we continue to deliver market-leading experiences for our broker partners across the country. We’re currently experiencing a strong rate of growth and aspire to continue this positive trajectory for the future, and these strategic appointments are central to accelerating that momentum.
"We remain ambitious and excited about the opportunities ahead, as we continue to expand our footprint and innovate in broker support," he said. “We remain focused on strengthening our presence and supporting our brokers and their clients with helpful loan options, for even the most complex scenarios."
Pepper plans to release its half-year results on Thursday.
