The incoming VP brings 17 years of Canadian banking experience to the alternative lender
Haventree Bank has appointed Nelly Yuzbasiyan as vice-president of sales (national), the Toronto-based federally regulated Schedule I alternative mortgage lender announced, adding a seasoned banking executive to lead its national sales organization and strengthen its position in the broker channel.
Yuzbasiyan joins from EQ Bank and Equitable Bank, where she served most recently as director of regional sales and sales enablement from July 2025 to August 2026.
She brings more than 17 years of experience spanning banking technology, strategy, operations, and sales, with over a decade in senior leadership roles.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to build strong relationships, develop great people, and contribute to the next chapter of growth," Yuzbasiyan said in announcing the move.
In her new role, she will lead Haventree's national sales organization with a focus on sustainable growth, deepening relationships with mortgage brokers and other partners, and building high-performing teams.
A career built across Canadian banking
Yuzbasiyan's résumé spans two of Canada's most prominent banking institutions. During more than four years at EQ Bank and Equitable Bank, she held associate director roles in national business development and sales operations and strategy before her promotion to director of regional sales and sales enablement.
In that position, she managed a 15-person team, oversaw annual strategy development, and led the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics as a customer relationship management platform for a 40-person sales team.
Before joining Equitable Bank in April 2022, she spent more than seven years at BMO Financial Group in increasingly senior roles — progressing from senior manager positions in BMO Capital Markets through director-level mandates in strategic sourcing, procurement, and global third-party risk management.
There, she led enterprise-wide programmes with annual spend ranging from $1 million to $10 million and managed complex change management initiatives across large internal teams.
Haventree's growing footprint in the broker market
The appointment comes as Haventree Bank continues to build its presence in Canada's alternative lending sector.
As Haventree chief operating officer Joel Cote told Canadian Mortgage Professional, alternative lending has become an intentional pathway for a widening range of creditworthy borrowers, including the growing segment of self-employed Canadians navigating complex income structures.
Haventree Bank president and CEO Fern Glowinsky, in a recent interview with CMP, described a national lending mandate that scans opportunities beyond the sluggish Greater Toronto and British Columbia markets.
"We're a national lender and we're looking across the country to support borrowers," Glowinsky said, noting that stable rate conditions can present a real opportunity for broker channel activity.
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