Legalsuper has welcomed its first chief financial officer (CFO) after a two-month recruitment process, following the departure of its chief operating officer (COO) and chief investment officer (CIO) over the last two months.
The fund’s chief executive, Luke Symons, has announced the appointment of Michael Gogorosis in the recently created role of CFO.
Most recently, Gogorosis held the role of deputy CFO at Vision Super for over three years. Prior to this position, he oversaw Equip Super’s $5 billion merger with Rio Tinto Super as its financial controller for over a decade.
Commenting on the appointment, Symons said: “Michael has direct superannuation fund experience combined with broader financial services and asset management experience gained both in Melbourne and London.
“Michael was a standout candidate in a highly competitive field and brings with him a combination of outstanding professional competencies, personal values and academic qualifications all aligned with legalsuper’s current growth and innovation agenda.”
The fund created the chief financial officer role within its executive team to underpin its strategic operations.
With a key focus on financial decision making and management, Gogorosis will support legalsuper’s growth agenda, investment strategy and performance.
The CFO position was first created in August when the $5.4 billion fund announced the departure of its chief operating officer, Trevin Erichsen, who joined in October 2022 and worked as interim CEO for seven months after the departure of Andrew Proebstl at the end of 2022 after 20 years.
At the time, Symons told Super Review that his departure was part of a wider executive team change including recruitment for a new chief financial officer.
“We are working with global executive search company, Odgers Berndtson, on the recruitment for this crucial executive role and look forward to advising members and stakeholders of our decision in the near future,” he previously said.
In September, legalsuper also confirmed that its chief investment officer, Norman Zhang, would be departing in December after three and a half years to pursue a new role with investment manager Koda Capital.
Symons said he looked forward to appointing a new CIO to “play a key role in building on our demonstrable strengths in delivering strong, net investment returns and providing excellent members’ services and support”.
