Banking veteran Damon Knights joins OIM as SVP to drive residential lending and national broker expansion
The Orbis Independent Mortgage Group (OIM Group) has named Damon Knights as senior vice president and group head, residential lending.
Knights joins after an eight-year stint with Equitable Bank, where he most recently served as vice president, sales and distribution, personal banking. In that role, he oversaw national sales and distribution for the personal banking division, working directly with mortgage brokers, financial advisers, and strategic partners across Canada.
Knights has long been vocal about the broker-lender relationship. Speaking at the 18th Canadian Mortgage Awards in May 2024, he said the partnership between brokers and lenders carries real weight for Canadians. “Mortgage brokers, together with lenders, have the opportunity to truly influence the lives of Canadians,” he said.
From lender to broker platform
That perspective now carries new significance. As SVP at OIM Group, Knights moves from supporting brokers from the lender side to building the infrastructure that supports them directly.
“Damon brings an exceptional depth of industry knowledge, a proven track record of leadership, and a genuine passion for supporting brokers and driving meaningful growth,” said Teddy Kyres, chief executive officer of The OIM Group. “His vision, relationships, and experience will play a critical role as we continue expanding our footprint across North America.”
Knights said the timing of the move was deliberate. “OIM is building an outstanding reputation for entrepreneurial leadership and unwavering broker support,” he said. “I look forward to working alongside the leadership team and the broader network to continue building on that momentum and creating even greater opportunities for brokers across Canada and beyond.”
What the new SVP will oversee
In his new role, Knights will lead strategic growth initiatives across OIM’s three affiliated brands: Indi Mortgage, Orbis Mortgage Group, and the Independent Mortgage Network (IMN). He will also head Swyft Mortgage, the platform’s in-house alternative lending arm, available exclusively to brokers within the OIM network.
His mandate spans national expansion, lender partnership development, and operational performance. Knights brings more than two decades of experience in banking, lending, and financial services, with a career spanning sales, operations, product strategy, and distribution.
The platform behind the OIM Group appointment
The appointment comes roughly five months after OIM Group formally came into being. Formed through a joint venture between Orbis Mortgage Group and Indi Mortgage in January 2026, OIM Group positioned itself as one of the largest national independent brokerage platforms in Canada.
The platform now supports more than 750 mortgage professionals across Canada and the US, and is targeting over $10 billion in mortgage originations in 2026.
CEO Kyres has described the platform not as a network but as an “infrastructure” – a multi-brand model inspired by similar entities in the US and Australia. Member brands Orbis and Indi retain their own management teams and identities, with OIM providing centralized support in underwriting, technology, compliance, and alternative lending.
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