Financial services firm Snowball Group has repositioned its executive team in a bid to take advantage of changes in the non-aligned financial advisory sector.
Former ipac Financial Planning director, Sally Manion, will join Snowball later this month.
Manion joins the firm in the newly created position of executive director, advice and professional services, Snowball managing director Tony McDonald said.
“It [Manion’s role] combines aspects of a couple of other roles that we’ve had here because she’s taking on all the marketing and sales for all the advice and professional services side of the business, so that includes for Outlook, Western Pacific and our joint ventures,” McDonald said.
He would not rule out whether the group is planning to make any further hires to support Manion.
“Obviously, Sally wants to get her feet under the desk and look at what she’s got. I would be surprised if Sally didn’t look to bolster her team,” McDonald said.
“The critical thing from our point of view is Sally is looking after the whole client experience. When we sat down to talk there was an immediate connection about it all being about the client. Sally has an incredible client focus.
“Sally is prepared to think outside the square a bit and I think Sally, like us, believes the consumer has changed a bit and like us I think she also believes the advice offer or client experience needs to be smarted up in this country.”
In line with Manion’s appointment, Snowball staffer Eamonn Roles will move into a full-time role with the group’s fund-of-fund business, Officium.
McDonald said the firm anticipates significant growth in the non-aligned advisory sector regarding the approach taken by groups towards portfolio and manager selection.
“We think there will be that area and we think there’s a real possibility that the growth will come from our own advisers, but also potentially from other advisers who are looking for those kind of services,” he said.
