The Future Fund has announced changes to its team structure to further strengthen its investment capabilities.
Namely, Hugh Murray has been appointed deputy chief investment officer (CIO). His direct reports will include the heads of dynamic asset allocation, strategic opportunities and integration, overlays and Treasury, and economics and capital markets.
The Future Fund clarified that Mr Murray had been acting in the deputy CIO role since August, and prior to this, was head of overlays.
Meanwhile, Alicia Gregory continues as deputy chief investment officer, where she will add the alternatives and listed equities teams to her direct reporting lines, alongside credit and private equity.
Ms Gregory will also create a new position of head of tangibles, reporting to her, which will include infrastructure and timberland and property, and listed tangibles teams.
According to the sovereign wealth fund, the appointments are designed to “enhance collaboration and complement the Future Fund’s unique ‘joined-up’ approach to investing, as well as further build the investment team’s ability to respond to the changing investment markets”.
The changes follow the appointment of Ben Samild as CIO in August, where he was internally promoted from the role of deputy CIO.
Mr Samild has been with the fund for more than a decade, first joining in 2013 as director, debt and alternatives, following a four-year stint as head of investment strategy at LUCRF Super.
Commenting on the team restructure, Mr Samild said: “The investment landscape has changed significantly in recent times, so there is a corresponding need to redesign how we work as an investment function in this new environment.
“The refreshed structure that we are introducing today represents an evolution in how we operate to leverage the strengths and capabilities of the investment team,” he continued.
He added that the two appointments were designed to provide role clarity, encourage cross-team collaboration, and empower the teams to make critical investment decisions.
“Having benefited from being able to consult extensively with colleagues since my appointment as CIO, I feel confident that these changes will enhance the way we work as a high-performing, joined-up investment team.
“Importantly, we have the structure in place to be able to meet our investment mandates both now, and well into the future,” Mr Samild concluded.
