Zurich Financial Services Australia’s strategic focus on platforms continues with the creation of a superannuation specific role, head of corporate superannuation and wraps.
The new role has been filled by the present general manager of Zurich Australia’s Finium corporate superannuation business, Karen Malzard.
In her new role, Malzard will oversee Zurich Australia’s corporate superannuation offerings, i.super, Finium, and Accountants Superannuation Fund, as well as Zurich Australia’s WrapAccount business.
Malzard has 11 years experience in the financial services industry and has worked across product, administration, and distribution functions.
Health Industry Plan (HIP) has announced the appointment of Michael Keyte to the newly created position of marketing manager.
Keyte has more than 25 years experience in the superannuation industry, including a 20-year stint with NSW State Super Administration Authority (currently known as Pillar Administration).
Keyte held a number of positions within Pillar, principally being responsible for the provision of service to both members and trustees. After declining the opportunity to relocate with Pillar to Wollongong, Keyte accepted the chance to take on a short-term contract with HIP. At the end of the contract, and most recently, Keyte was appointed business development manager with State Super Financial Services.
On Keyte’s return to HIP, he will not only be responsible for maintaining HIP’s market share and growing the fund, he will also ensure existing members get the most out of their superannuation. This focus is very much in line with HIP’s belief that ‘the best marketing tool is how you treat your existing members’.
Mariner Wealth Management has appointed Matthew Dignum as its chief operating officer.
Dignum brings 10 years experience as a consultant in the finance industry to the position, having worked on short and long term contracts for boutique and multinational companies such as Treasury Group, JPMorgan Investor Services, AMP Personal Investments, Cogent Investment Operations and Perpetual Fund Services.
Dignum’s responsibilities have ranged from advising front, middle and back offices for investment managers and stock brokers, to custody administration and operations.
At Treasury Group, Dignum spent over two years assisting in the establishment of its portfolio of managers which includes Orion Asset Management, Investors Mutual and Confluence Asset Management. During this time, Dignum filled the roles of chief operating officer of Orion Asset Management and project manager for the initial public offer of Premium Investors, a listed investment company managed by Treasury Group.
Rei Super has announced the appointment of a new business development manger to work out of its Melbourne offices. Sue Johnson commenced in the role as of the 21st February 2005.
Prior to joining Rei Super, Johnson, a qualified financial planner, had a senior business development role with a major Australian funds management operation, and before that, held both business development and financial planning roles with financial planning networks.
Commenting on Johnson’s appointment, chief executive officer of Rei Super, Mal Smith, said: “We are delighted to have secured someone of Sue’s caliber and range of skills. Sue will bring a great deal of financial services experience to the role to assist with servicing our stakeholders in this critical time in the lead-up to fund choice.”
