The NZ mortgage broker adds a new COO and head of legal as it targets growth
New Zealand mortgage broker Squirrel has announced two senior leadership appointments as part of a broader restructure designed to support the business through its next phase of expansion.
Lauren De Witt (pictured right) has joined as chief operating officer — a newly recalibrated role that will see her oversee people, risk, and operations across the business. Sam Bell (pictured left) has been appointed head of legal, risk & compliance. The changes also see former COO Dave Tyrer move into the new role of group head of asset management.
CEO David Cunningham said the restructure was about building a platform capable of growing without losing discipline. "We're a complex business with ambitious plans. As we continue to scale, we want to make sure we've got the best structure — and expertise around the table — to support that growth, and wider team, in a sustainable way."
The appointments come as the wider mortgage market continues to grow. New residential mortgage lending reached $9.498 billion in March — up approximately 12% year-on-year — with the broker channel accounting for approximately 60% of all new home loans.
Who they are
De Witt brings more than two decades of enterprise operations experience, with a track record spanning periods of significant transformation and growth. Her most recent role was operations manager for Foodstuffs North Island's Four Square network, overseeing more than 160 stores. Before that she served as CEO of executive recruitment and contracting firm Emergent, where she led the business through post-pandemic stabilisation and growth.
"Squirrel is building something genuinely different in financial services, and there's a real opportunity to continue strengthening the systems, leadership capability and operational foundations that support long-term growth," De Witt said.
Bell is a qualified lawyer with over 20 years' experience across New Zealand's financial services sector, including senior legal and compliance roles at Westpac and AIA.
"What really drew me to Squirrel is their deep commitment to challenging the status quo and doing right by their customers," she said.
Asset management in focus
Alongside the two new hires, the restructure also redefines Tyrer's remit. Cunningham said the move reflected a tighter focus on one of the fastest-growing parts of the business.
"Dave has played an instrumental role in shaping the trajectory of our asset management business over the last few years — and that'll still be the core of what he does,” he said. “His new title better reflects the work he's already leading day to day across our investment and asset management functions. It also allows us to continue building specialist capability across the wider business as we grow."
Tyrer's appointment sits alongside another recent hire that underlines the same growth priority. Squirrel recently appointed fixed income specialist Iain Cox as its first head of managed funds — a newly created role reflecting the rapid growth of the firm's managed fund offering.
Squirrel has expanded from its Auckland base into the lower North Island in 2024 and the South Island in 2025, and has lent over $1.75 billion as a non-bank lender since inception.
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