Mark Collins, former head of New Zealand Home Loans, has been appointed chief executive and Gareth Clague will be chief financial officer of all of Liberty’s New Zealand group companies.

Liberty’s activities span a lending business established in 2001, a deposit business established in 2008 and Mike Pero Mortgages, of which full ownership was obtained in 2013.

Liberty provides alternative finance and secured deposits, which are investment grade rated (BBB- positive outlook).

Mike Pero remains New Zealand's largest franchise mortgage-broking company, processing more than $1 billion in loans each year.

Managing director of Liberty Sherman Ma said the appointment of Collins and Clague marked a new phase in the development and expansion of the Liberty and Mike Pero businesses.

“The strength of the New Zealand economy continues to create demand for the innovative financial products and services,” he said.

“In response to this demand, we are focused on supporting our business partners with a leading service, while growing the Mike Pero franchise network which, through its experienced advisers, brings much needed choice to consumers across the country.

“Mark and Gareth’s qualifications and deep experience in financial services, consumer finance and mortgage lending will benefit the broader industry and our customers through brokers and a highly engaged franchise network,”  Ma said.

Before New Zealand Home Loans, Collins held senior roles with Sovereign.

Clague was most recently a specialist with the BNZ and formerly with New Zealand Development Trust. With two decades’ capital markets experience in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, he is an expert in consumer, commercial finance, funding and insurance.

Collins said: “It is a great privilege and exciting opportunity to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of our New Zealand businesses and to be working with Gareth Clague and our broader team. I look forward to building on the outstanding efforts of Simon Frost, our former National Manager who has relocated to Australia with his family to take on a new role with the group.

“The strategy will continue to deliver what business partners and consumers are looking for and expect, which is fair, fast and fuss-free financial solutions and personal service.

“As a point of difference of our nearly 20 years of experience enables us to offer specialty finance options, in addition to mainstream products. This means we are able to offer consumers more choice and options, along with market-leading service.”