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Paul Bakker has been appointed as the new head of strategic partnerships at Bluestone, with 20 years of experience across major banks, mortgage managers, and non-bank lenders.
The lender said that Bakker will focus on strengthening aggregator relationships, improving integration and education initiatives, and developing new market opportunities.
He said Bluestone’s reputation and growth in the third-party space underpinned his decision to take on the role.
“I’ve seen firsthand how quickly Bluestone has grown in the third-party market over the last two years,” Bakker said.
“Bluestone Home Loans is well-known in the market for its dependable service, commonsense approach to credit assessment, and customer-centric approach, giving brokers confidence in working with a company that values integrity.”
Bluestone chief commercial officer Tony MacRae said Bakker’s appointment reinforces the lender’s focus on supporting brokers and aggregator partners with leading in-market support.
“Paul brings deep expertise and long-standing aggregator relationships, with a proven record of driving growth through collaboration and insight,” MacRae said.
“His leadership will help us elevate the broker experience and accelerate Bluestone’s growth in the non-bank space.”
MacRae added that Bluestone’s objective is to continue strengthening its relationships and leadership within the sector.
Just weeks earlier, Bluestone expanded its offering with the launch of Expat Home Loans to support more than 1 million Australians living and working overseas.
At the same time, the lender increased its maximum loan amount for metro residential properties from $3 million to $5 million, widening access for a broader range of borrowers.
The new Expat Home Loans are offered in Australian dollars with flexible foreign income assessments, allowing eligible borrowers to access up to 80 per cent LVR, along with refinance and equity release options.