NEWS & MEDIA

We are excited to announce the appointment of Ben Murphy as State Manager QLD for Viking Asset Aggregation. With a robust background spanning over 20 years in the finance industry, Ben is a seasoned professional. His expertise in sales, partnership management, risk, business development, and broker support will be a valuable addition to Viking’s growing team. Ben has previously held senior management roles at Scotcap Global, a leading Fintec based in Berlin, Vero Insurance, and Crowe Horwath Auditors. His most recent role was at Now Finance, where he was the QLD State Sales Manager.

We are delighted to announce Ryan Medina’s promotion to Senior Manager of Viking Aggregation Operations. In this role, Ryan will oversee Operations for Viking Asset and the newly established Viking Commercial and Residential divisions, working closely with the General Managers of Viking Asset, Simon Gwynne, Viking Residential, James Angus, and Viking Commercial, Cath Ryan. He will report to Rob Ryan, the COO and Group Secretary of Nationwise.

We are thrilled to announce Terry Scott’s well-deserved promotion to Regional Manager – Commercial QLD, NT, WA and Asset Finance QLD. Terry, who joined the Viking team in April as the State Manager of Commercial Aggregation QLD, has been a steadfast company advocate, demonstrating fantastic energy and enthusiasm from day one.

The former Lending Association GM has joined Viking Aggregation’s parent company as its new chief customer and information officer. Adrian Cunningham has joined Nationwise Group, the parent company of Viking Aggregation, as its first chief customer and information officer. In the newly created role, Cunningham will now spearhead the company’s technology roadmap, focusing on technology enablement to provide data insights for Viking’s brokers that will help grow their businesses. Cunningham has more than 25 years of experience in the finance space and was most recently the general manager of the insurance arm of Sydney-based brokerage Lending Association, where he had been for the past two years. He also has extensive experience in the broker space, having spent more than 13 years in various broker-facing roles at National Australia Bank (NAB) and having previously been the head of distribution for Virgin Money Australia (where he was central in relaunching Virgin Money Home Loans into the Australian mortgage market). Cunningham also has experience in the SME lending space, having worked as national sales manager at SME lender Prospa and chief revenue officer at Finstro. According to the group, the new position reflects its commitment to redefining support solutions for brokers and their clients. Announcing the appointment, Nationwise’s chief operating officer Rob Ryan said: “Adrian’s extensive experience in financial services and his track record of growing businesses make him an ideal fit for this integral role. “His fintech expertise together, with his dedication to delivering customer insights, will be instrumental in driving our strategic growth initiatives for Viking and for our brokers.” Cunningham said he was excited to help build an aggregation group with “a truly broker-first approach”. He said: “I am thrilled to join this dynamic team at a pivotal moment in our company’s growth. “Together, we will leverage cutting-edge technology and customer insights to redefine the future of aggregation, delivering unparalleled value to our partners and their clients.” Viking Aggregation – which started as an asset finance aggregator – has been growing rapidly since its launch in late 2023, having expanded into residential and commercial aggregation in May 2024. Cath Ryan, the newly appointed GM of Viking Commercial, welcomed the new hire: “We are excited to welcome Adrian on board to provide our new aggregation offering with data-led solutions to deliver growth opportunities for our brokers.” Similarly, James Angus, the new GM of Residential Aggregation, said: “Adrian’s expertise further strengthens our leadership team and supports our strategy to position ourselves as the aggregator of choice for high-performing and aspirational broking businesses.”

Viking is excited to announce the launch of Viking Academy, a practical, value-driven education program for the Asset Finance industry. Our innovative program consists of three modules over three months, each delivering real-world practical training in all aspects of Asset Finance. From compliance essentials to lending fundamentals, interview skills, building a referral network, and even mastering systems and processes. Our focus on delivering hands-on training that prepares you for success from day one sets the Viking Academy apart. Whether dreaming of starting your own business in asset finance or aiming to excel within an existing organization, our program provides a clear pathway to achieving your goals. The FBAA and CAFBA officially endorsed the program. This endorsement ensures that participants receive an industry-recognized certification and 24 CPD points upon completion, validating their expertise in the field. Our inaugural academy saw participants from various industries and experience levels, each eager to elevate their careers. Simon Gwynne, General Manager of Viking Asset Aggregation, shared his excitement about launching the Academy.

Viking is pleased to announce the appointment of Cath Ryan as General Manager – Viking Commercial Aggregation. In this role, Cath will build a team passionate about doing things differently, focusing on a new way of looking at aggregation for commercial brokers. Cath has a wealth of experience in the finance industry, spanning over three decades. She has held key roles throughout her career, including leading lending business banking teams, overseeing large-scale corporate lending, and being a specialised finance broker. Cath’s diverse background in small business, corporate and institutional finance, as well as her work with major banks, niche investment banks, the non-bank space and as a finance broker, gives her a unique perspective on the industry. Cath has had a distinguished career, most recently building out the NSW/ACT lending team at a non-bank Commercial lender, Thinktank, achieving year-on-year growth. Before this, she spent several years on the third-party Commercial team at St George. Cath expanded her role during her tenure to include developing broker education programs, encompassing expert banker-led training for the Westpac Group. Cath is focused on education and commits to sharing knowledge and empowering others. Cath looks forward to the exciting new opportunity Viking provides to work with a fantastic group of people and transform aggregation and the broker experience.

The Nationwise Group Appoints Industry Leader James Angus as Chief Revenue Officer and General Manager – Viking Residential