Keenan Bunning and Jeannie Bredberg have both been appointed senior manager for adviser relationships, while Sara Wakefield will take on the role of B2B marketing manager. Mr Bunning was previously a senior BDM at Perpetual, while Ms Bredberg served as director for Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania at BlackRock. Ms Wakefield joins from ASFA, where she was senior manager for marketing and communications.
“In 2020 we witnessed a seismic shift in societal expectations whereby great investment returns were only the first stage of the assessment criteria for many investors when allocating a large proportion of their capital,” said chief executive John McMurdo.
“We are seeing an accelerating movement of advisers and investors placing significantly more weight on ensuring their investments also create a better world for people, planet, and animals – on top of achieving above-market returns.”
Mike Murray has also been promoted to head of domestic equities with responsibility for overseeing the active equities team and processes.
“The growth of ethical investing is one of the strongest investment trends we’re seeing right now. We think there are two main drivers – the first is consumer demand as people seek to ensure their investments are aligned with their values; and the second is the market-leading financial outcomes that prove ethical investing can deliver better risk-adjusted returns,” said head of distribution Leah Willis.
“As a result, advisers are seeking us out because of our established reputation as Australia’s leading ethical investor. That’s why we’re strengthening our distribution capabilities to make sure we can help them respond to the rising demand for ethical options with quality financial advice.
