JBWere has appointed an advice executive from Morgan Stanley as Andrew Bird moves to UBS, as well as a head of advice for NSW and the ACT.
Daniel Walsh will join as an advice executive from June 2026 while Ben Smoker will take up the state leadership role in May.
Walsh joins from Morgan Stanley where he has spent four years as executive director and state manager for NSW at the firm’s wealth management arm. Prior to this, he spent eight years at Perpetual as advice manager for NSW and later as lead partner for NSW and Queensland and head of partnership growth.
Earlier this year, the firm lost advice executive Andrew Bird after a decade who moved to join UBS as its head of global wealth management, Australia. This is his second stint at UBS as he previously spent three years as a market manager for Melbourne until he departed for JBWere in 2016.
Michael Saadie, chief executive of JBWere, said: “Daniel is a senior wealth management leader with 20 years’ experience leading advice and distribution teams across major institutions. He has a strong track record building resilient and high-performing teams and deep experience in adviser growth strategies, business development, risk and compliance management.”
Meanwhile, Smoker joins from six years at CBA where he has spent the last two as its general manager for private wealth at Commonwealth Private Bank. He has also spent time at Westpac and Saxo Bank as chief executive of Saxo Capital Markets (Australia).
His appointment follows the hiring of Alexandra Campbell as chief investment officer at NAB Private Wealth and JBWere, as reported in December. Campbell will join from Cbus Super where she was deputy chief investment officer and head of private markets.
Speaking at the time, Saadie said Campbell will lead the firm’s investment strategy across strategic and tactical asset allocation, portfolio construction and manager selection.
“Alexandra has a deep understanding of investment strategy and client objectives, and a proven record of delivering investment outcomes. Her leadership will be integral as we enhance the breadth and sophistication of our private wealth offering. The appointment reinforces our commitment to outstanding client outcomes through a unique integrated private wealth and banking platform.”
