Recent leadership changes across the Investment Management sector

This report provides a high-level overview of key senior appointments and people movements within the Investment Management sector across Australia 

Rest promotes Simon Esposito and Kiran Singh to interim Co-Chief Investment Officers. Esposito, Head of Private Markets, and Singh, Head of Listed Assets, will take on the CIO roles in addition to their existing duties after Andrew Lill departs next month. 

VFMC (Victoria Funds Management Corporation) promotes Mark Aarons to Head of Asset Classes as part of a restructured investment team under CIO Russell Clarke. Clarke streamlined his direct reports to four key roles to focus more on strategic decisions. Karla Harman has been appointed Executive Manager of Investments, overseeing non-investment functions. 

Franklin Templeton appoints Rebecca Morgan as Sales Director, who was previously Head of Intermediary Distribution at Cooper Investors. Her addition strengthens Franklin Templeton’s distribution capabilities across all asset classes. 

Genium Investment Partners hires Andrew Vong as Head of Investment Solutions. Vong was previously with Mason Stevens and Macquarie Group. 

Goldman Sachs restructures Australia & NZ Equity Research: Andrew Lyons departs after 12 years. Paul Young becomes Co-Head alongside Matthew Ross, overseeing Melbourne and Sydney. Kane Hannan has been appointed Deputy Head of ANZ Equity Research. 

Macquarie Asset Management consolidates its listed tangible assets businesses and reshuffles the investment team to drive synergies: James Maydew was promoted to lead the new Global Listed Real Assets team. Barry Klein was promoted to Portfolio Manager, retaining some research coverage. Anthony Felton departs after 21 years with Macquarie. 

IFM Investors announces the departure of Lounarda David, COO, after six years with the firm. Amy Diab, Head of Global Investment Operations, will serve as Acting COO while searching for a new COO. 

Investment Trends appoints Tim Sparks as Head of Sales for Australia, formerly Head of Distribution and Marketing at Bell Direct. Sparks brings over 20 years of experience in sales, strategy, and marketing roles across financial markets. 

Longreach Alternatives Head of Distribution Alex Haynes departs to join GQA (Graticule Asset Management Asia) in Singapore, taking on the same role. Haynes has over 23 years of experience in financial services. 

RQI Investors promotes Joanna Nash as Head of Portfolio Management, Ron Guido as Head of Alpha Research, and Scott Hamilton as Head of Portfolio Construction and Engineering. These promotions reflect the firm’s growth in the last five years, with Andrew Francis as CEO. 

Perpetual chairman Tony D’Aloisio announces retirement after eight years on the board. Gregory Cooper will succeed as chair, and the board will reduce to seven directors after the corporate trust and wealth management sale to KKR in 2025. 

Perpetual appoints Bernard Reilly, former CEO of ART (Australian Retirement Trust), as its new Group Chief Executive, effective 2 September, succeeding Rob Adams. 

Zenith Investment Partners’ former Head of Research, Bronwen Moncrieff, joins Blackwattle Investment Partners as a member of the Investment Council. Dugald Higgins serves as Acting Group Head of Research at Zenith while seeking a permanent replacement. 

Natixis IM (Natixis Investment Managers) appoints Bruno Santos as Distribution Director for Private Wealth across Southern Australia. Santos joins from Pengana Capital Group and will enhance relationships with private wealth clients in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. 

JPMAM (JP Morgan Asset Management) appoints Travis Spence as Global Head of ETFs, based in London. Spence has been with JPMAM for nearly 20 years, previously leading ETF distribution for EMEA. 

Principal Asset Management appoints Stuart Dunn as Director of Distribution in Australia, focusing on institutional and wholesale markets. 

If you'd like to discuss any of the above or have a general discussion about the market, please call Steve Ash on 0439 441 758.