Fund People Update

Yarra Capital welcomes two investment heads

Nick Green is the new head of institutional distribution, a promotion from senior institutional client services representative, having been with Yarra Capital since its inception. Rommel Hacopian is the new head of intermediary, promoted from retail distribution manager. Hacopian has been with Yarra since 2020.

VFMC appoints head of equities

Victorian Funds Management Corporation has appointed Stuart Birkett to head of equities. Birkett moves into the role from investment manager at HESTA

Mason Stevens appoints head of asset allocation

Paul Spence is the new head of asset allocation at Mason Stevens, moving into the role from State Super as a senior analyst.

Aware Super welcomes portfolio manager

Jiren Zhou is the new portfolio manager of infrastructure and real assets at Aware Super, joining from Plenary Funds Management.

FSC welcomes two new board members

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has appointed Renato Mota and Alison Telfer as new board members. Mota is the chief executive of Insignia Financial, while Telfer is the country head of asset management Australia and New Zealand at UBS Asset Management.

JBWere appoints head of research

Chris Karapalidis is the new head of investment funds research at JBWere, an internal promotion. Karapalidis joined JBWere in 2018 and was acting head of managed research after Sally Campbell left.

Australian Unity farewells chair and director

Peter Promnitz is retiring from Australian Unity, effective September, while Greg Willcock has resigned from the board, effective October. Promnitz joined the board in 2013, and was appointed chair in 2016. Lisa Chung, a non-executive director, will take over as chair when Promnitz retires.

SMSF Members Association appoints CEO

Peter Burgess has been appointed chief executive of the Australian SMSF Members Association, moving into the role from the deputy CEO position. The role commences in March 2023. Burgess takes over from John Maroney, chief since 2017.

BUSSQ appoints CIO

Peter Laity is the new chief investment officer at BUSSQ, moving into the role from Clearway Capital Solutions as executive director. Laity replaces Simon Mather, who left earlier in 2022 for a role at EWM Group.

APRA chair resigns

Wayne Byres has resigned from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) after eight years, ending in October 2022.

legalsuper welcomes COO, head of product, manager of business development

Trevin Erichsen has been appointed chief operating officer at legalsuper, moving into the role from Australian Retirement Trust. David Walker is in the newly-created role of head of product, joining from CareSuper as a senior product manager. Tyson Adams is the new manager of business development and partnerships, joining from Cbus.

Future Fund appoints two new heads

Tammi Fisher is the new head of alternatives and James Waldron is the new head of credit at Future Fund. Fisher joined Future FUnd in 2021 as director of private equity, while Waldron has acted in the newly-created role since June 2022.

AFCA welcomes board member

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has appointed Delia Rickard to the board of directors, as she leaves the role of ACCC deputy chair. Rickard is a trustee of the Jan Pentland Foundation, and a chair of Good Shepard’s Advisory Committee on Financial Inclusion Action Plans.

Rickard was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2011 for her contribution to consumer protection and financial services, while also being awarded the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also announced as the inaugural winner of the Law Council of Australia’s Consumer Rights Award.