
Brad Seymour
Chairs in Brisbane and Gold Coast
Chair Spotlight
Biography
Brad has 25 years of experience as a Senior Executive, Company Director and Entrepreneurial Proprietor in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and India have forged his ‘back to basics’ management principles and helped define his rules for business success. He was a co-founder of Wizard Home Loans with Mark Bouris in the mid-’90s, a business created with the vision to drive real competition in the Australian & New Zealand Mortgage market for the consumer and to monetise this proposition in amplified value to the shareholder – it delivered both with stunning success. The business went on to become one of the most recognised financial services brands and largest lender in the country ahead of its ultimate sale to General Electric Company in 2005 for nearly half a billion dollars. Following the sale of Wizard Brad went on to take up a role as a Senior Executive at GE, responsible for the growth of the global brand in Financial Services, including the launch of the Wizard brand and business model into the Indian subcontinent in 2007/08.
In 2009 the opportunity to take on the Australian banking landscape yet again lead to Brad becoming a foundation member of the team that launched and floated Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management, including his involvement in the Channel 9 hit TV Series of The Apprentice Australia and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia as an on-air advisor.
Brad then changed tack to broaden his business experience base becoming a Director at Australia’s fastest-growing Insurer, Auto & General (owner of both the Budget Direct & Compare the Market brands). His focus at A & G was driving 10 times system growth through smart business and distribution partnerships over 4 very successful years. More recently Brad has refocused on his core passion of growing Australian small to medium business and their leaders both through his keynote speaking platform and involvement in a number of business mentoring and advisory engagements.
Career highlight
“The biggest highlight of my career to date has been the success of my first big venture, Wizard Home Loans. Taking on the big banks and winning massive market share by offering good old-fashioned service and a better way to get a fair deal, all delivered by local ‘Wizard experts”, proved that any market is disruptable with the right mix of business model, capital and passion.
Whilst the ultimate success was measured by the scale and sale of the business – 6th largest lender in the country, sold for nearly $500m, it was the opportunity to help build over 250 small business operations and drive them to their own success that I reflect on today as the greatest achievement.”
Why Coraggio
“After originally delivering a keynote speech at a Coraggio event in Sydney, I was fascinated by the platform of business sharing and had to learn more about the people and purpose behind the concept.
After visiting the Melbourne Coraggio teams and attending a Sydney Board, I was certain Coraggio was for me. I was struck by the open, committed, honest engagement on the Boards. I saw a great mix of business acumen, sincere interest in helping each other and a focus on finding and driving success for each other in all the teams I met. It is this mix that I seek to drive in my CAB.
Business owners working with other like-minded people with similar business challenges and wildly different experience bases set up Coraggio as an authentic forum to learn and teach, challenge and be challenged, succeed and share failures with a committed intent to help all members balance their work, life and personal worlds for the best possible outcomes.”
To join Brad’s Board or for more information, please get in touch with Brook Hawkesford, Advisory Board Development, Queensland, at brook@coraggio.com.au or call 0419 581 672.