Former Citibank exec joins P2P lender

Following a six-year stint at Citibank in a number of senior marketing and business strategy roles, Melissa Cicero has joined SocietyOne as its chief marketing officer (CMO) and head of digital acquisition to spearhead the lender’s growth in 2019.

She replaces previous CMO, Mitchel Harad, who left the lender in October last year after three years.

Commenting on the appointment, SocietyOne CEO Mark Jones said: “Melissa has a wealth of experience in developing and executing digital marketing strategies that take businesses to the next level and ultimately deliver [profit and loss] outcomes.

“Her experience in the personal loan and credit card sectors of consumer finance, along with her commitment to SocietyOne’s mission of being Australia’s leading and most trusted marketplace lender makes her a perfect fit for the team.”

Ms Cicero described SocietyOne, which launched in August 2012, as a “real game-changer within consumer lending fintech”.

“It’s an honour to be joining at such an exciting time for the company, and I look forward to building on the many successes SocietyOne has already achieved over the years and working with the team to take these achievements to even greater heights,” the new appointee said.

The lender has made a series of significant appointments lately, last month naming Westpac’s former senior head of finance, consumer bank, and head of finance, commercial banking, Virginia Marshall, as its chief financial officer (CFO).

Mr Jones, Westpac’s former CFO of consumer bank and director of divisional partnerships, was confirmed as SocietyOne’s new CEO in August last year, after holding the roles of CFO and commercial director for six months.

He told Mortgage Business previously that the lender expects to break even in the first quarter of 2019, which the CEO noted “creates opportunities for shareholder action”.

The lender also late last year said that it will be developing new solutions for investor funders, broadening out its broker solution and developing new strategic partnerships as well as further investment in its technology capabilities and platforms.

Since its launch, the lender’s investor funders have reportedly provided more than $580 million to over 20,000 customers.

[Related: Peer-to-peer lender appoints new CFO]