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Lendi Group has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer (CEO) as a part of a succession plan that will see the current lead executive shift into a role on the board of directors.
Co-founder of Lendi, Sebastian Watkins, has been appointed the new incoming CEO of the Lendi Group, effective 1 January 2026, as part of a plan to succeed fellow co-founder David Hyman, who will transition into a non-executive board role after 13 years of building the business.
Watkins had held a chief operating officer (COO) position within Lendi Group since the acquisition of Aussie in 2021, and has been acting CEO since March 2025, with Hyman focusing on the group’s AI capability.
Outgoing chief executive Hyman said he would continue to prioritise the group's growth, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), following his shift to a full-time board position.
“After 13 years building Lendi Group, I’ve decided to transition from my current CEO role, while remaining on the board focusing on priority areas where I can add the most value to the business,” Hyman said.
Hyman said that Watkins had demonstrated himself to be a world-class leader as they built and scaled the business.
“Bas (Watkins) has been integral to the business since the beginning, has the depth of experience to lead this business and is the right leader to drive this next chapter,” Hyman said.
Watkins said that, with Hyman shifting to a board role, the business was well-positioned to capitalise on its FY2025 results.
“As CEO, my focus now will be delivering for customers and brokers, scaling Find, Buy, Own to its full potential, and building on the momentum in the business,” Watkins said.
“Dave made the decision for this shift from a position of strength for the Lendi business, and I’m grateful to continue working alongside him as a partner and a board member.”
Lendi Group chair Ellie Comerford said the board had confidence in the new leadership setup to deliver on the brand’s growth ambitions.
“Sebastian has proven himself as an outstanding leader through this period, and David’s continued involvement as a member of the board ensures we retain his strategic vision and AI expertise,” Comerford concluded.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mathew Williams
Born in the rural town of Griffith NSW, Mathew Williams is a graduate journalist who has always had a passion for storytelling. Having graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Sports Media in 2023, Mathew recently made the move to Sydney from Canberra to pursue a career in journalism and has joined the Momentum Media team, writing for their real estate brands. Outside of journalism, Mathew is an avid fan of all things sports and regularly attends sporting events across Sydney. Get in touch at
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