Appointments: May 2007

GESB has launched a financial advisory service as part of a move to broaden the range of services available to its 275,000 members. GESB manages the largest superannuation fund based in Western Australia.

GESB chief executive officer Michele Dolin said the new service would be headed by one of the nation’s top 50 financial planners and would be a key element in assisting members to maximise benefits for their retirement.

“GESB Financial Advice will be headed up by Michael Heffernan,” said Dolin. “Michael has 25 years experience in providing superannuation and strategic investment advice in Australia and overseas, and is widely respected in the industry. Michael joined GESB from Mercer HR Consulting.

“Michael Heffernan was named as one of Australia’s top 50 financial planners (Masterclass) by a leading investor magazine in 2005, 2006 and 2007.”

The service, provided by qualified financial advisers on a fee-for-service basis, is available to the 275,000 current and former public sector employees that make up GESB’s membership, with a focus on those nearing retirement.

Dolin said the establishment of GESB Financial Advice complemented existing superannuation and retirement products.

“This is another step in GESB’s strategy of delivering competitive benefits to our

members.” Dolin said.

UniSuper has announced a series of board appointments designed to cement the fund’s position as a leading provider of superannuation and retirement income services.

Following the recent appointment of Elizabeth Bryan to the chairmanship of UniSuper, two further highly experienced investment industry identities have now been appointed to the board.

These appointments are: Mervyn Peacock, previously chief investment officer of AMP Capital Investors, and Chris Cuffe, previously chief executive of Colonial First State Investments and later chief executive officer of Challenger Financial Services’ Wealth Management Division.

Both Peacock and Cuffe have joined the board as independent directors. Peacock will become the new chair of the board’s Investment Committee, taking on the role vacated by Bryan when she assumed the chairmanship of the board. Cuffe will join the board’s Membership Committee, which oversees the fund’s distribution, communications and marketing programs.

Between them, Bryan, Peacock and Cuffe have led organisations responsible for investing more than $200 billion in superannuation and other investment assets. Collectively, they bring to the UniSuper board more than 80 years of experience in financial services and a wealth of commercial expertise.

With Peacock’s and Cuffe’s appointments, all 11 positions on the board have now been filled following the recent nominations of Janice Reid (vice chancellor of the University of Western Sydney) and David Carey (joint national secretary, Community and Public Sector Union), and elections of Professor Michael Skully (chair of Banking, Department of Accounting and Finance at Monash University) and Paul Mullooly (chief financial officer of the University of Queensland) to other board vacancies over recent months.

Commenting on the appointments, UniSuper chairman Elizabeth Bryan, said: “We now have on our board both a deep financial sector knowledge and wide ranging experience in the needs of the higher education sector, which we serve. The board is now well placed to guide and oversee our talented staff, led by Ann Byrne and her team within UniSuper management.”

Boutique fund manager Constellation Capital Management has announced the appointment of former Citigroup investment analyst Brian Han to its team of investment professionals. Han has 10 years industry experience researching Australian and global media companies as a broking analyst servicing the institutional market. By his own admission, Han “has a passion for the stock market and company research”. He has a strong belief in value investment philosophy.

Announcing the appointment, the managing director of Constellation Capital, Doug Little, said: “Han brings additional research skills, is a good cultural fit to our value investing team and underpins Constellation’s continuing commitment to strong fundamental research.”

Commenting on his appointment, Han said: “I am highly attracted to Constellation Capital’s value-based discipline and its rigorous investment processes — qualities that neatly fit with my general investment philosophy. I look forward to working with the team and contributing to the continuing development and growth of the firm.”

Property investment and development company MFS DiversifiedGroup has announced the appointment of Guy Farrands as its new managing director.

Farrands brings a wealth of experience in listed property investment, acquired in roles including, most recently, chief executive officer of Valad Property Group and division director of the real estate division within Macquarie Bank’s Investment Banking Group.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of someone of the calibre of Guy to such a crucial position in our company,” said Craig White, managing director of MFS Diversified. “We have established a sound platform for growth at MFS Diversified, and Guy is the ideal appointment to take us to the next level of our development.”

White will revert to the role of executive director when Farrands formerly assumes his position early in the next financial year.

Mercer Wealth Solutions has appointed a senior and experienced financial planning professional to work with colleagues to capture the significant growth opportunities for its multi-channel financial advisory business in Australia.

Vicky Ampoulos will join Mercer as financial advice operations manager, a newly created and pivotal role that will collaborate with Mercer group company stakeholders and clients to accelerate the growth of the business.

The position will provide operational support to Mercer Wealth Solutions’ existing, high-quality telephone and employee financial adviser channels as well as a proposed new franchise channel.

Ampoulos has 20 years senior financial services experience, including expertise in funds management, financial planning, training and education.

She has held roles with RetireInvest, St George Bank, and ANZ, and was most recently head of financial planning for Trust Company of Australia.

Mercer Wealth Solutions business leader David Anderson said Ampoulos would work closely with financial advisers, risk advisers, lending advisers and lead the development of professional standards for Mercer Wealth Solutions’ growing advice business.

“The multi-channel financial advice structure is a key part of Mercer’s business. Super fund trustees and employers increasingly appreciate the value of financial advice for their members and workforce. Demand from individuals for advice has increased dramatically since the arrival of choice, flexible retirement policies and Simpler Super, and we’re delighted Vicky is joining Mercer Wealth Solutions to help us harness the opportunities,” Anderson said.

The financial advice operations manager role will report directly to David Anderson until Mercer Wealth Solutions appoints a national financial advice leader. Ampoulos will join Mercer Wealth Solutions in May.