Move comes as company seeks growth
New Zealand fund manager First Mortgage Trust (FMT) has announced the appointment of Andrew Western (pictured above) as chief financial officer in a move that strengthens the company’s next phase of growth.
Paul Bendall, CEO of the investment and property finance specialist, said the company was thrilled to welcome someone with Western’s extensive experience and expertise.
“First Mortgage Trust has significant growth opportunities in both the investment and lending sides of our business and Andrew will be a key part of our team,” Bendall said.
Andrew Western: Experienced for the role
Western brings over two decades of expertise in finance, with significant roles in New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
He has worked for major institutions such as Credit Suisse, Barclays Investment Bank, and ASB Bank and has a strong history of leading finance teams through challenging environments and building units that are not only effective but highly motivated.
“We are focused on executing a long-term strategic plan designed to ensure First Mortgage Trust thrives amid a complex operating environment, including macroeconomic challenges and regulatory changes, and that we are ready to take advantage of future opportunities,” Bendall said.
“Andrew’s skills, experience and his strategic acumen will be pivotal in developing, refining, and implementing our strategies as we look to the future and continued growth of FMT.”
Why did Andrew Western join FMT?
Western said he was first attracted to FMT, which has $1.65 billion in funds under management, because of its “strong market reputation as a purpose-led organisation, supported by solid values”.
“I also really like that they put people at the heart of everything they do,” Western said. “This was further enhanced through my interactions with Paul and the board during the recruitment process.”
Western told NZ Adviser that the company has a “clear vision” about where they want to take the business, the market opportunities, and a real desire to ensure the things that made FMT special remain.
“All these factors made my decision to join FMT easy, I am looking forward to being part of the next phase of the FMT story,” he said.
First Mortgage Trust has been providing investments and property finance to Kiwis for nearly 30 years, continuing to grow and expand. The firm currently has over 6,500 investors.
It has also helped thousands of people in their property and business journey by providing first-mortgage secured funds across a range of property investments and developments, including commercial, industrial, retail, residential, and rural projects.
