BT Financial Group (BTFG) has announced the team that will oversee its wealth management and advice businesses, following the merger of Westpac and St George Bank.
The appointments include general manager of superannuation and investment solutions John Shuttleworth, general manager of insurance Mark Smith and wealth transformation director David Lees. They will join general manager of advice and private banking Geoff Lloyd in the executive team.
General manager of customer service Gai McGrath also joins the team and will oversee the management of contact centres for all the wealth businesses, including Asgard and BT.
"Our superannuation and investment solutions business will house the investments, retail and corporate super businesses from both BT and St George, as well as the administration platform businesses BT Wrap and Asgard, which will continue to be managed separately," BTFG chief executive Rob Coombe said.
Four people have been hired to the advice and private banking business. Former Westpac financial planning chief executive Mark Spiers will lead the BT advice business.
Other appointments include: head of Westpac private banking Jan Swinhoe, head of St George private clients David Hewett and head of marketing, brand and communication in the super and investment business Bettina Pidcock.
Early feedback from meetings with financial planners has been enthusiastic, with advisers fully supporting the merger and particularly the formation of a standalone advice business, Lloyd said.
