Paragon is a private lending and debt advisory company with a vision of being the trusted, first choice asset backed funder and advisor for growing businesses and property investors.

We are proudly backed by one of South Africa’s major commercial banks and have built up an extensive network of funding partners that includes banks, asset managers, fund managers, working capital funders and private investors. Our key strengths lie in customised solutions for diverse financing needs. Founded in 2009, Paragon has since established itself as a valued and trusted specialist in the field of raising finance and capital.

While you focus on growing your assets, we’ll focus on your finance.

Meet The Team

Our experienced sales staff have all worked for commercial or private banks in the past.

 The team has a comprehensive understanding of available finance solutions, enabling us to deliver customised solutions to our clients.

Gary Palmer

FOUNDER & CEO
082 818 2085
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Greg Brownlee

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
074 850 5978
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Loraine van der Merwe

OFFICE MANAGER
078 669 9338
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Graeme Zacks

CREDIT
082 654 5005
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Kirsten Parkins

FINANCE MANAGER
084 675 4711
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Gary Sacks

FINANCE CONSULTANT
082 551 0311
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Daniel Fig

FINANCE CONSULTANT
082 460 7586

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Justine Cardoso

FINANCE CONSULTANT
083 458 5880

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Justin Rowe-Roberts

DEALMAKER 
078 441 9419

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Briers Bekker

ANALYST & DEALMAKER 
079 789 7779

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Judie van Staden

LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER
082 076 3394

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Sydney Long

LEGAL OFFICER
082 054 4672

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Corporate Social Investment

We invest in our future leaders

Paragon’s CEO is a regular guest lecturer to the UCT property studies Masters students to cover alternative lending opportunities and current new trends for financing property developments and investments as part of the MSc Finance module.

Paragon also offers financial assistance in the form of annual prizes to both undergraduate and MSc students for the Property Finance modules.

Undergraduate prize winners are offered job shadow opportunities to work alongside our CEO and the Paragon team for a few days to see what happens in real life!

“This is a really beneficial relationship for our department and the students, to have such willing access and interest from Gary Palmer and the Paragon Lending Solutions Team, one which we value and appreciate.” – Kathleen Evans: UCT Convener Property Finance Module (MSc in Property Studies).

We care for our children

Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity that performs safe, effective cleft lip and cleft palate surgery, and delivers postoperative and ongoing medical therapies to children from low and middle income countries.

Paragon and its executive team believes in making a difference where needed most and have lent their support to this ongoing life changing initiative.

We care for our communities

Paragon’s staff is actively involved in serving their immediate and greater communities in contributing their time to the efforts of upliftment projects.

  • Serve on the management committee of a local Charity Shop run as a community project with the aim to make a difference in the community and to the lives of those less fortunate.
  • Volunteer work at a NPO that aims to empower the desperate and destitute on the streets of Cape Town by reaching out to them.

Khayelitsha Clean Up Initiative
Para-gon-on-a-township Tour
Cultivating a Greener Tomorrow
Khayelitsha Clean Up Initiative

We recently went to Khayelitsha to assist the Sikhuthaze project, an amazing voluntary initiative that works to provide a cleaner and safer environment in the Level Two informal settlement. The project fills a huge gap, providing waste removal services within the area, which is currently excluded from local government facilities and budget.

Para-gon-on-a-township Tour

We recently went on a tour of Langa for a behind-the-scenes peek of the work done at the Bridges For Music school and the township. What an inspiring experience of youth upliftment and shared connections through music!

 
Cultivating a Greener Tomorrow

In a world where conservation and sustainable practices are gaining prominence, our team embarked on a remarkable journey to commemorate World Conservation Day. With a blend of charity and team-building activities in mind, we found ourselves at a primary school in Mitchells Plain, ready to make a lasting impact on the environment. The goal? To plant 40 trees that would stand as a testament to our commitment to a greener future.