Senior hire brings over a decade of SME banking experience to the non-bank lender
Banjo Loans has named Ryan Knight (pictured top) as head of sales, bringing more than a decade of SME banking and distribution experience to the role.
Knight joins from National Australia Bank (NAB), where he most recently led business banking teams across south-east Melbourne.
Knight began his career during the global financial crisis, gaining early exposure to small business operations and cash flow management before moving into banking. He subsequently developed expertise across credit, structuring, and broker engagement.
In his new position, Knight will focus on deepening engagement with aggregators and brokers, expanding Banjo's business development manager footprint, and maintaining the lender's profile in the SME finance market.
"Brokers are critical to Banjo's growth strategy," Knight said. "It's a contact sport – we need to be visible, accessible and consistent in market. My focus is making sure our team is in front of brokers and delivering a seamless experience from application through to funding.
"There's a clear gap between traditional bank processes and what SMEs need. Banjo sits in that space where we can move quickly, be flexible on structure and still deliver strong outcomes," he said.
Knight also brings direct experience as an SME operator, having been involved in family-run businesses including a creative agency and a beverage company.
Guy Callaghan (pictured right), chief executive of Banjo Loans, said the appointment coincides with a period of growth and continued investment in product development, personnel, and broker distribution.
"Ryan understands the broker channel and the SME customer inside out," Callaghan said. "His leadership and experience will help us scale our distribution capability while staying true to the service levels brokers expect."
Knight cited Banjo's existing momentum and people as factors in his decision to join.
"The foundations are already there," he said. "Banjo is made up of good, highly capable people and it has a clear niche and a growing brand. Now it's about expanding our reach, investing in talent and continuing to evolve how we support brokers and their clients."
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