Headquarters:
Level 17, QBE Centre, 125 Queen Street, Auckland 1010
Year founded:
1989
Number of employees:
23
Phone:
0800 11 22 74
Email:
loans@xceda.co.nz
Website:
xceda.co.nz
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/xcedafinance
Daniel McGrath
Chief Executive Officer
Darryl French
Chief Credit Risk Officer
Victoria Kernohan
Lending Operations Manager
Leadership
Daniel McGrath leads Xceda as CEO, drawing on his strong background in corporate and finance law to guide the company through New Zealand’s evolving regulatory environment. He is passionate about building a high-performing, customer-focused team that balances digital innovation with personal service. McGrath is instrumental in shaping Xceda’s governance and compliance, ensuring the business is well-positioned for growth in the specialist lending market. He is a strong advocate for proportionate regulation and open industry dialogue, believing these are key to achieving better outcomes for both customers and lenders. McGrath’s leadership is defined by vision, integrity and a commitment to excellence.
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel McGrath
With over 30 years of experience in both bank and non-bank lending, Darryl French thrives in the fast-paced, innovative world of non-bank finance. As chief credit risk officer at Xceda, he leads with a collaborative and empowering style, fostering a culture where shared knowledge drives success. French has overseen significant growth in Xceda’s bridging finance portfolio, underpinned by tailored product development and strong leadership. He is passionate about challenging the dominance of traditional banks and delivering flexible, customer-focused solutions. French’s commitment to mentoring and team development is central to building a resilient, future-ready credit function.
Chief Credit Risk Officer
Darryl French
Victoria Kernohan brings a clear, customer-centric approach to her role as lending operations manager at Xceda. With a strong background in mortgages and lending operations, she ensures processes run smoothly and effectively support both advisers and borrowers. Kernohan is dedicated to delivering transparent, flexible lending solutions and empowering her team to provide exceptional service. She thrives in dynamic environments where collaboration and creative problem-solving are essential. Since joining Xceda, Kernohan has been instrumental in strengthening internal processes and adapting to market shifts, always focusing on practical, people-oriented outcomes and continuous improvement.
Lending Operations Manager
Victoria Kernohan
Helen Zheng
Business Development Manager
Helen Zheng brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, specialising in business development, adviser engagement and client relationships. Before joining Xceda, she held senior roles at KB Kookmin Bank and founded Ezy Finance, where she built a leading advisory business that settled over $1 billion in loans for more than 3,000 clients nationwide. Zheng’s achievements have earned her recognition as one of New Zealand’s Top 10 Advisers. At Xceda, she is dedicated to supporting advisers with practical solutions, clear communication and strong partnerships, helping drive growth and deliver outstanding results.
Business Development Manager
Helen Zheng
Nicky Skinner
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner, based in Christchurch, was honoured as NZ Adviser’s BDM of the Year. With over 20 years of banking experience – including roles as bank manager, private banker and senior lender – she brings deep expertise to her work. Skinner supports mortgage advisers with product knowledge and deal presentation skills, focusing on building strong, trusted relationships. Her collaborative approach and dedication make her a valued resource, consistently praised for her guidance and support in helping advisers achieve outstanding client outcomes.
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner
Sarah Radonich
Third Party Support Manager
Steph Leeson
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
Business Development Manager
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Sarah Radonich is a third party support manager (relief BDM) at Westpac, building strong relationships with mortgage advisers across New Zealand. With 15 years of banking experience, she supports a wide range of regions and communities, working alongside a team of experienced BDMs. Radonich is known for her responsiveness, collaboration and focus on delivering efficient, results-driven experiences for advisers and their clients, always striving for the best possible outcomes.
Third Party Support Manager
Sarah Radonich
Steph Leeson immigrated from the UK 14 years ago and began her Westpac career as a specialist lender. Now a business development manager, she supports mortgage advisers across Auckland and Northland, offering expert guidance and support. Leeson is highly regarded for her lending knowledge, responsiveness and collaborative approach. Her dedication was recognised nationally as a finalist for the 2025 NZ Adviser BDM of the Year award, reflecting her impact within the third party channel.
Business Development Manager
Steph Leeson
Margaret Leau-Sulusi brings over 20 years of banking experience to her role as business development manager, having started with Westpac in 2005. Her background includes lending support, senior lending roles and branch management. Leau-Sulusi partners closely with mortgage advisers, providing product expertise and strategic guidance to drive strong client outcomes. Known for her collaborative style and responsiveness, she is passionate about building trusted relationships and delivering customer-focused results.
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
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Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
“We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
Xceda is a trusted New Zealand non-bank deposit taker regulated by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, with a proud history dating back to 1989. Originally established in Whakatane as a regional asset lender, it has grown into a nationwide operation, offering a range of tailored lending solutions, including short-term (bridging) finance and long-term (property) loans. As one of only a small number of institutions licensed by the Reserve Bank, Xceda demonstrates strong regulatory standing and a firm commitment to responsible lending. In recent years, the company has expanded its reach and evolved its brand to better serve a diverse customer base. With more than three decades of experience, robust governance and a focus on personalised service, Xceda continues to help New Zealanders achieve their financial goals with confidence.
IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company.
“We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.”
Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate.
“Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”
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Resourcing has been treated as a deliberate lever for growth. ANZ has expanded assessor teams, trained them to combine technical expertise with empathy, and equipped them with the market knowledge to make faster, more reliable decisions.
Advisers depend on turnaround times that meet client expectations.
“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals,” says Hayley Burgess, ANZ head of mortgage adviser distribution. “We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly.”
People development follows the same philosophy. New hires are chosen for both skill and attitude, and training goes beyond technical proficiency. Programs cover credit assessment, economic literacy and client engagement, with equal weight on empathy and communication. Advisers often work with clients under stress, and ANZ expects its people to balance expertise with human understanding.
