Vega

Office address: 152 Fanshawe Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland, 1010 
Website: www.vegalend.co.nz 
Year established: 2018 
Company type: financial services 
Employees: 50+ 
Expertise: finance, lending, home loans, business loans, asset finance, refinancing, trade finance, invoice finance, property finance, life insurance, income protection, medical insurance, apartment loans, KiwiSavers, debt advisory, retirement planning, development finance 
Parent company: N/A 
CEO and key people: Harry Ferreira (chief executive), Mike Allen (director), Kevin Russo (department head), Tracy Berge (department head), Murray Allen (compliance manager), Alexandra Samylova (marketing manager), JP (operations manager) 
Financing status: N/A 

Vega is a financial services firm that offers mortgage, insurance, and loan solutions tailored to meet diverse client needs. With a strong focus on innovation, customer experience, and regulatory compliance, Vega aims to provide brokers and clients with cutting-edge tools and resources.    

History of Vega 

Founded in 2018, Vega emerged with a mission to simplify and enhance the mortgage process for both brokers and customers. It began with founder Harry Ferreira’s frustration with the way banks treated their clients: based on their credit scores, not their personal needs. He has seen this first-hand, having worked for one of New Zealand’s top banks.  

Ferreira launched Vega to humanise the mortgage and banking experience. The goal was to make clients feel like they had a private banker working for them.  

Vega has earned recognition in the mortgage industry for its work. It was named one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing mortgage companies for 2023. Also, 3 of its mortgage advisers belong to the top names in mortgage for 2023.   

Products and Services of Vega 

Vega’s diverse product portfolio is designed to cater to a variety of financial needs. Key offerings include:   

• mortgage solutions: Vega provides flexible mortgage options for first-time homebuyers, refinancers, and investors 

• Vega Protect: includes a range of products covering life, medical, disability, income protection, and business interruption insurance, among others – all to ensure clients’ financial security and peace of mind 

• commercial finance: Vega offers tailored business loans and financial advice to help enterprises grow and succeed in a competitive market 

• wealth management: Vega works with a KiwiSaver provider to help its clients build retirement wealth   

• asset finance: Vega supports businesses and individuals in acquiring essential assets, offering flexible finance options for equipment, vehicles, and other capital needs   

Culture at Vega  

The workforce at Vega is guided by the way they ACT, which means they are: 

• agile in how quickly they can pivot to market changes 

• connected with the business pulse of New Zealand 

• transparent and open in everything they do 

Vega’s culture is centred on growth, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. The company actively invests in its employees' development through a variety of tailored and structured programs.  

Some key aspects of Vega’s culture: 

• tailored weekly training: focused sessions to address specific employee needs 

• biannual professional development days: company-wide events for learning and collaboration 

• weekly industry training: updates on industry trends from business partners 

• continuous upskilling: resources and feedback for ongoing skill enhancement 

• celebration of success: recognition and positive reinforcement of employee achievements  

It’s no surprise that Vega was recognised as one of New Zealand's best mortgage companies to work for in 2023.   

About Vega’s chief executive and director Harry Ferreira and other key people  

Harry Ferreira, Vega’s founder and leader, has steered Vega towards continuous growth and innovation. His leadership is characterised by a commitment to simplify financial processes and enhance customer experiences, positioning Vega as a leader in New Zealand’s mortgage industry. 

Ferreira has a solid track record in financial services. He was part of the Bank of New Zealand as head for its small business unit, then director of Affero Ventures Limited. He is also listed as founder of ed&i body and Neo.   

Completing the leadership team at Vega are:   

• Mike Allen, director of Vega Mortgages & Vega Protect, who oversees the company's mortgage and insurance divisions, ensuring the delivery of comprehensive financial solutions 

• Kevin Russo, head of business growth & talent acquisition, is responsible for spearheading Vega's expansion efforts and attracting top-tier talent to the organisation 

• Tracy Berge, head of customer & adviser experience, focuses on enhancing the client journey and supporting Vega's network of advisers to deliver exceptional service 

• Murray Allen, program manager – governance, risk & compliance, ensures that Vega’s operations adhere to regulatory standards and best practices in risk management 

• Alexandra Samylova, marketing & social media manager, drives Vega's brand strategy and digital presence, effectively communicating their value proposition to a broad audience 

• JP, operations & performance analytics manager, oversees the operational efficiency and performance analytics, optimising Vega's processes for better outcomes   

The Future at Vega 

After partnering with aggregator Finsure in April 2024, Vega is in an even better position to meet the evolving needs of New Zealand’s mortgage and financial services sectors. “In such a competitive market, we are always looking for ways to give our advisers the best possible tools to remain ahead of the competition,” Ferreira said, referring to Finsure’s technology offering.  

As the industry landscape shifts, Vega remains committed to staying at the forefront, driving change and delivering value to its clients and partners.