Lendela appoints Frändén as Deputy CEO amid growth plans

Singapore-based fintech company Lendela has announced a significant leadership transition, appointing Axel Frändén as Deputy CEO.

Formerly the Chief Marketing Officer, Frändén will now assume an expanded role that integrates his previous marketing responsibilities with the duties of Deputy CEO, aiming to enhance operational excellence and identify new opportunities for growth.

Frändén will work closely with CEO Nima Karimi and the senior leadership team across all functions. The goal is to scale the business across the region and ensure that Lendela continues to deliver equitable and transparent access to financing for its customers.

Lendela's CEO, Nima Karimi, expressed his enthusiasm for Frändén's new role. "I am incredibly excited about this new chapter for both Axel and the company," said Karimi. "Axel has been an integral part of Lendela's success over the last five years, and his leadership on marketing, brand, and growth has been instrumental in positioning us as a leader in APAC's lendtech space. His new role will allow us to harness this very strategic vision and expertise more broadly across the business as we continue to scale in APAC."

Frändén's appointment comes at a critical time, as Lendela continues to expand its presence in key markets. The company has served close to 400,000 consumers and has established partnerships with more than 100 lending partners. Frändén commented on his new responsibilities, saying, "As we look to the future, I'm excited to take on this new responsibility while continuing to oversee the growth strategy that has been a key part of Lendela's success. Lendela's success over the years has been the epitome of teamwork making the dream work, and I look forward to working closely with every function to identify new opportunities as part of our ambitious growth plan while continuing to deliver value to our customers and partners."

Since early 2024, Lendela has increased its headcount by over 20%, adding hires across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. In Singapore, the company has expanded its partner network to nearly 60 lenders, including major banks. This development has made Lendela's lender panel the largest in Singapore. The company was also recognised as Best Lendtech at the Asian Banking & Finance Fintech Awards in July.

In Hong Kong, Lendela became the first global fintech to join Wings Capital Ventures' portfolio, a venture capital firm known for its focus on fintech and SaaS startups. In Australia, the company's lender panel has grown six-fold in just over a year. Additionally, Lendela has integrated the digital identity solution ConnectID to enhance borrower data security, marking an industry first.

With strengthened leadership, Lendela aims to accelerate its growth trajectory in the region. The company continues to expand its innovative end-to-end loan matching solution, empowering borrowers to make informed financial decisions.