Equity Trustees has appointed Andrew Godfrey as executive general manager of the superannuation trustees services business.
Mr Godfrey replaces Mark Blair, who was responsible for reshaping the superannuation business to focus on independent outsourced trusteeship in the superannuation sector. Equity Trustees said the strategy underpinned the growth of funds under supervision from $1 billion to $40 billion over the five years since Mr Blair was appointed to the role.
“Andrew comes to Equity Trustees with 30-plus years of experience in financial services, including leadership roles across superannuation, wealth, financial advice, and insurance. His experience has spanned operations, technology, leadership of master trusts, client delivery, transformation and change and risk, and most recently consulting to the sector,” said managing director Mick O’Brien.
Mr Godfrey joins Equity Trustees from Mercer, where he had previously served as chief operating officer (COO) – operations and technology for the Asia-Pacific region, COO (Australia/NZ), head of transformation, and head of financial services. He was also COO at life insurance company AIA in the mid-2000s — and prior to 2010 held various senior management roles at Mercer and Plum Financial Services.
The business said Mr Blair is “exploring continuing to work with the superannuation business” in an independent adviser and consultant role.
“We are fortunate to have this exceptional expertise and experience to continue the growth story for our specialist superannuation trustee service, which has included the acquisition of Zurich Australian Super and trustee appointments to AIA (CommInsure) in 2019, followed by HUB24 Super Fund and AMP Life super funds in 2020,” said Mr O’Brien.
“Andrew inherits a capable and strong leadership team, excellent clients and clear direction. We believe the market we have established for superannuation trusteeship is ripe with opportunity — and our business will continue to go from strength to strength as a result.
“We thank Mark for the critical role he has played in the establishment and growth of the business so far, and welcome Andrew to Equity Trustees.”
