Major institutional player BNY Mellon has made a key appointment specifically aimed at tapping into the self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) segment.
The company confirmed today that it had appointed former Perpetual and Alliance Bernstein staff member Brigette Leckie as vice president, intermediary relationships in Australia.
Announcing the appointment, BNY Mellon Asset Management Australia managing director Bruce Murphy said the new position had been created to support the company's planned expansion into the SMSF arena.
"The SMSF segment is the fastest growing in Australia but, as yet, has not embraced global investing as a way to diversify risk and improve returns," he said.
BNY Mellon Asia-Pacific chief executive Alan Harden said the company was very ambitious and had a long-term goal to become one of the premier investment management firms in the region.
"Australia is a key market in helping us achieve this goal," he said.
The fund has strengthened its leadership team with three appointments to drive its next phase of growth and innovation.
ASIC and APRA have warned many trustees have failed to meaningfully improve retirement strategies despite the retirement income covenant being in place for three years.
Super assets and contributions increased in September to $4.5 trillion, though at a slower pace than the previous quarter.
The fund has delivered double-digit annualised returns across key options over its first three years since launching in 2022.