POWERED BY MOMENTUM MEDIA
HESTA appoints defensives GM
Healthcare sector industry fund HESTA has appointed Stephen Howard as general manager – defensives.
Howard had over 20 years’ experience in financial services, including over 10 years at Vanguard Australia where he was the long-standing Asia Pacific head of fixed income.
Prior to joining HESTA, he was the senior portfolio manager at Medibank Private and spent seven years at the Treasury Corporation of Victoria.
Sonya Sawtell-Rickson, HESTA chief investment officer (CIO), said his appointment would continue to build on the internalisation program that would see management of fixed interest and cash begin to shift in-house in 2022.
“Stephen will be leading the next phase of our internalisation journey, as we move to internally manage fixed interest and cash instruments,” Sawtell-Rickson said.
“It’s exciting to have Stephen come on board as he has a proven track record of investing significant portfolios, managing highly successful teams and leading strategic thinking.”
Howard said he looked forward to joining HESTA and being part of an innovative and leading investment team with strong growth plans.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve witnessed first-hand the critical role health care providers play within our community,” Howard said.
HESTA previously announced an internalisation program would be implemented in Australian equities by 2021 and be underway in cash and fixed interest asset classes in 2022.
The program had already re-vamped its leadership structure with the appointment of Stephanie Weston as head of portfolio design.
Steven Semczyszyn also joined HESTA in early 2020 to lead the internal Australian equities team.
Sawtell-Rickson said the internalisation program was part of building out a long-term hybrid model, combining skilled internal management alongside leading external asset management partners.
“We have a broad-ranging and ambitious strategy to drive cost efficiencies and build capability so we’re bringing the best thinking to how we manage a growing and significant pool of assets,” Sawtell-Rickson said.
“This will support us to continue to deliver strong, competitive long-term investment returns for our more than 880,000 HESTA members.”
Recommended for you
The fund has hired a former ART executive as its new head of group strategy.
The sovereign wealth fund has revealed six internal hires to support the execution of key strategies.
The fund has announced the departure of a second senior executive in as many months, with its chief member officer to finish up mid-December.
The $89 billion fund has announced a new leadership role within its private markets team.
TOP PERFORMING FUNDS
ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Fund name
3y(%)pa
1
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI Second Close
61.07 3 y p.a(%)
2
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI First Close USD
59.21 3 y p.a(%)
3
DomaCom Lot 21 Chellaston Road Munno Para West SA 5115 Australia
31.56 3 y p.a(%)
4
Fidante Credit Suisse Global Private Equity
31.06 3 y p.a(%)
5
DomaCom 4/27 Crombie Avenue Bundall QLD 4217 Australia
26.81 3 y p.a(%)
