Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Martin Kennedy is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the banking and financial markets. In mid-2020, he transitioned to the broking and advisory industry as a founder of Quantaco Capital.
Kennedy’s expertise spans all facets of general banking, with a particular focus on corporate, property, and commercial banking, origination and client acquisition, and credit analysis. His strong relationship-building skills have been honed through various long-term frontline banking roles.
At Quantaco Capital, Kennedy’s primary focus is on providing debt advisory solutions to the hospitality and property sectors. He excels in sourcing new loan originations for clients from a diverse range of banks and non-banks, as well as undertaking bespoke advisory roles. His most important responsibility is ensuring that clients achieve the best outcomes for their debt requirements while maintaining excellent relationships.
The broader Quantaco business is a leading data-driven technology company dedicated to delivering hospitality insights that assists clients improve the performance of their venues. This is achieved through a specialised financial reporting platform that enables the completion of end-to-end account processing, reconciliation, management reporting, inventory management and data analytics in real time through automation.
Level 4, 6 O’Connell Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
0418 379 232
martin@quantaco.co
linkedin.com/in/martin-kennedy-53581712
quantaco.co
Martin Kennedy
Executive Director, Capital Advisory
Quantaco Capital
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“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
1998–2005
2006–2016
2016–2020
2020–Present
Present
Several roles within National Australia Bank’s Business Bank
1998–
2005
Various roles focused on key corporate client relationship management and new to bank debt origination at Westpac Institutional Bank
2006–
2016
Head of Corporate and Property, NSW at Bank of Queensland
2016–
2020
2020–Present: Executive Director at Quantaco Capital
2022: NSW Commercial Broker of the Year at St George Bank
2023: National Commercial Broker of the Year at NmB Aggregators
2024: National Commercial Broker of the Year at NmB Aggregators
2025: Partner of the Year, NSW – Banjo Business Loans
2020–
Present
Senior Associate at Cooney Lees Morgan since 2022
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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