Greg Schapkaitz has taken the newly created role of national business development manager.
Managing director Shannon Bernasconi commented the position had been formed as a result of strong growth in the business, off the back of significant structural change in the advice industry.
“In each year for the past two years some 25 per cent of financial advisers have either left the industry or changed licensee,” Ms Bernasconi said.
“During this time, WealthO2’s growth has been in the most part through referral. In this environment, Greg’s appointment helps WealthO2 maintain a well-networked BDM resource, to explain the benefits of WealthO2’s unconflicted low-cost alternative to the product platforms and wraps.
“Greg is a welcome addition to the team and brings over 20 years’ experience in sales, administration and management in financial services, and a proven track record of achieving business objectives.”
Prior to being a senior BDM at Lonsec, Mr Schapkaitz was a director for his business Schapkaitz Sales Consulting, providing sales consulting to sales professionals, SMEs and institutions.
He also spent more than eight years in sales administration and held management roles at AMP and SuperConcepts. He has also worked at BT Financial and ran his own financial advisory business for eight years.
Mr Schapkaitz’s hiring follows the recent appointments of Gillian Gilmore as WealthO2 academy practice lead and Simon Moore as product and portfolio analyst.
The academy practice aims to deliver development education and training services, with the staged rollout of WealthO2’s new user interface.
“The new software application reduces adviser time in navigation, and means the adviser can use the dashboards for service reviews with clients directly,” Ms Bernasconi said.
Ms Gilmore is reported to have more than 22 years’ experience in financial services, including nine years as head of education for Stockbrokers and Financial Advisers Association.
Meanwhile the new product and portfolio analyst Mr Moore has joined WealthO2 from Hub24 Custodial Services, where he worked in investment administration and client services.
Previously, he was a wrap administrator with Macquarie Bank.
“The high calibre of these appointments, and the expansion of the team more generally, [are] a reflection of the business’ strong growth in response to the drive by wealth management practices for new efficiencies and savings through technology,” Ms Bernasconi said.
“Our new appointments all have a proven track record of success, and their combined experience in business development means they will bring a fresh skill set to their respective roles.”
