"After an incredible 18 years with Aussie and the Lendi Group (25 including Wizard), Friday was my final day in the business," Whyte wrote on LinkedIn.
In his new role, the Brisbane-based executive has been tasked with helping the business grow faster while continuing to support Liberty's existing network of more than 200 brokers. He will oversee the LNS sales and operations teams. Whyte begins his tenure with Liberty today, 20 April.
“Having known Matt for many years, I have strong confidence in his growth mindset and in his ability to support advisers in building robust and sustainable businesses,” Smith said.
Whyte comes with nearly 30 years experience in the industry. In addition to almost five years at Lendi Group, he racked up roughly 11 years at sister brand Aussie Home Loans. The executive held several senior-level roles, such as general manager of distribution (at Lendi) and head of distribution growth (at Aussie), as well as stints at Westpac and Wizard Home Loans.
"On to the next exciting chapter for me," Whyte said. “My immediate focus will be to get to know the network, understand what is working well, and ensuring we are investing in the right people, technology and support frameworks.”
Liberty could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Whyte arrival at Liberty follows a period of growth — and high-profile departures. In March, former Liberty Chief Executive Officer of LNS Daniel Marsi left the firm after 12 years to join Loop Consulting Group. Marsi stepped into the role in May 2024 after LNS Founder and former Managing Director Brendan O’Donnell retired after approximately 20 years in the mortgage broking industry.
More recently, the non-bank highlighted its strength in small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lending and self-managed super fund (SMSF) lending during its first-half results.
Also this year, Liberty also recently priced a massive $2 billion residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), the largest in the firm's history. The print gives the lender room to rebuild momentum in mortgages, while also underscoring the expanding scale of Australia’s non-bank sector and strengthening investor appetite for credit.
Regarding the RMBS, Liberty's chief financial officer told Australian Broker that the "milestone highlights the depth of trust domestic and international investors have in Liberty’s lending expertise."
