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Asset Based Lending (ABL) has appointed Jacob Schiavon as its new business development manager (BDM) for NSW and the ACT, as growing demand for flexible cash-flow solutions from businesses drives the lender’s expansion plans.
In his new role, Schiavon will be responsible for supporting ABL’s growing broker and adviser network, balancing brokers’ needs for solutions with lender requirements.
His experience spans both front-line broking and broker support, including stints as a commercial finance broker at NSW-based brokerage Maclean Financial, where he managed a loan book of approximately 250 clients.
More recently, Schiavon worked as a broker support officer at non-bank lender Azora Finance Group, managing the end-to-end life cycle of commercial and consumer lending deals.
ABL said his appointment would strengthen its capacity to support its growing broker network, with managing director Steve Heavey noting the lender had seen “exceptional traction”.
“Advisors and brokers are increasingly turning to asset-backed solutions when traditional lending timelines and criteria don’t fit,” he said.
“Jacob’s appointment reflects that growth and our commitment to making this option more accessible across the market.”
Meanwhile, Schiavon said he was eager to join the lender, which has recently been added to the lending panels of several aggregators.
“Working on the broker side, I saw firsthand the gap between when clients need capital and how long traditional lending takes,” he said.
“ABL’s speed and flexibility is what brokers need to actually solve for their clients. That’s why I’m here.”
Solution-minded
ABL officially launched into the market last year, as reported by Broker Daily sister brand The Adviser, with a funding model targeting urgent relief for struggling small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
The lender aims to help commercial brokers support clients facing financial distress or with impaired credit by enabling them to unlock working capital against assets they own outright.
It provides loans of up to 70 per cent of an asset’s value, ranging from $20,000 to $1 million, with terms of one to three months and the option to extend to six months.
Once the loan is repaid, the asset is released. If repayment is not made, the asset is sold at auction, with ABL noting any surplus proceeds are returned to the client.
The lender also noted an increasing number of complaints relating to Australian Taxation Office tax debt have risen significantly, creating downstream cash-flow pressure for businesses across multiple sectors.
At the time of ABL’s launch, Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia CEO David Bushby said brokers were under increasing pressure to find flexible finance solutions for business clients, particularly those facing ATO enforcement.
“It is important that brokers have a range of options so they can find a solution that is fit for purpose, and which best meets clients’ needs,” he said.
“The addition of this asset-based lending model is welcome, giving brokers an additional option to support their clients, where appropriate.”
[Related: SME lending tipped as next growth area for brokers]
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