Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has announced three new appointments to its leadership team, a move that the fund said will best position it to “deliver on its vision to be Australia’s most chosen and trusted retirement partner”.
Namely, Lachlan East has been appointed chief member officer, Julie Bingham will take on the role of chief of staff, and Anne Fuchs has been appointed executive general manager of advice, guidance and education. All moves will take effect from 1 July 2023.
Mr East, who has been with ART — previously Sunsuper — for more than 10 years as chief risk officer and most recently chief of staff, is a highly experienced financial services executive with more than 25 years’ global experience in the investment banking, wealth management and superannuation industries.
In a statement on Thursday, ART confirmed that Mr East will be responsible for the fund’s member operations portfolio, member service experience, and anticipating and advocating for future member needs.
Moreover, Ms Bingham joins as chief of staff with more than 20 years of experience across a range of organisations, most recently having spent five years at QSuper before taking on the role of general manager, member engagement, with its merged entity, ART.
On Thursday, the fund said its ongoing commitment to the external financial adviser market has been bolstered by the appointment of Ms Fuchs to executive general manager advice, guidance and education.
Specifically, she will be responsible for championing financial advice across ART, seeking to influence and shape the advice industry and ensure financial advice is accessible for all members, with ART claiming that it has the power to “materially change members’ lives in the lead up to and throughout retirement”.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, Ms Fuchs has held the role of head of advice, guidance and education at ART — previously Sunsuper — for the last eight years and sits on multiple boards and external advisory committees.
Commenting on the recent appointments, chief executive officer Bernard Reilly said the announcement comes at an exciting time as ART approaches 18 months since its merger.
“As key members of the fund’s wider leadership team, these roles are integral to delivering on Australian Retirement Trust’s ambition to empower our 2.2 million members across Australia to retire well with confidence,” Mr Reilly said.
“These appointments are also evidence of the calibre of amazing internal talent we have at Australian Retirement Trust,” he concluded.
Following the executive restructure in March, ART also confirmed that it will make an announcement on the newly created chief of retirement role in the coming weeks.
