Hunter Premium Funding chief executive Brad Bartlem (pictured) will retire after 26 years with the business, the company stated on Thursday.
Hunter said Bartlem helped shape the funder into a trusted partner for brokers across Australia and New Zealand, leading it through “significant growth and change.” His commitment to brokers and deep industry knowledge were hallmarks of his leadership, the release said. He will stay connected to the business in a consulting capacity.
Daniel Gronert has been appointed group chief commercial officer, with responsibility for the commercial performance of Hunter and Arteva Funding, according to the release. Both businesses will continue to operate as distinct brands with their own broker relationships.
Gronert was appointed Arteva’s chief executive in 2021 after the merger of Premium Funding and Principal Finance, and was still described as the funder’s CEO in late September. The release did not say whether Hunter will name a new chief executive.
Glenn Paine will continue to lead Hunter’s Australian sales team and Alex Lam its New Zealand team, Hunter said. Brokers across both brands will keep working with their existing relationship managers and sales teams.
Ray Zammit returns to Hunter in December to lead Key Partnerships. Rebecca Capes will continue to shape the funder’s strategic direction and strengthen its offering for brokers and their clients.
For brokers who fund clients’ premiums through Hunter, the announcement points to continuity in day-to-day contacts, with the changes concentrated at senior level.
Hunter was owned by Allianz Australia until Pemba Capital Partners bought the business, a deal agreed in December 2024. Pemba also holds an interest in Arteva. When the sale completed, Bartlem said Hunter was “well-equipped to accelerate our growth.” Pemba managing director Robert Haybittel said the aim was to build on Hunter’s foundation and expand its capabilities for brokers and customers. Hunter said its operations, systems and services would not change.
It says it has more than 45 years of industry heritage, writes about $2.6 billion in gross written premium annually and provides more than 90,000 funding solutions a year. Arteva describes itself as Australia’s largest independent premium finance company, serving more than 120,000 clients a year.
The leadership change comes as demand for funding is rising. Gronert said in September that Arteva was seeing a steady increase in premium funding take up across Australia since the start of the year.
Take-up is climbing even as commercial premiums ease. Marsh’s Global Insurance Market Index showed Pacific commercial insurance rates fell 13% on a composite basis in the second quarter of 2026, as reported in the same article.
