Rest has announced the departure of a second senior executive in as many months, with Deborah Potts to step down as chief member officer in December.
Potts has been with the fund for almost a decade, having joined as national manager for advice in 2015. She went on to become head of advice and education in March 2017.
Potts spent almost five years as group executive for employer and industry engagement and was named chief member officer in March 2023.
The fund’s CEO Vicki Doyle thanked Potts for her significant contributions to the fund during her tenure.
“As Rest’s first chief member officer, Deborah has been a passionate member advocate and leader who is deeply committed to embedding simplicity and ease across our member experience,” Doyle said.
“Her achievements include building Rest’s digital, personal and general advice capability; setting up our industry and employer team; and, more recently, launching our simplified investment menu changes and our new brand visual identity.
“After a fantastic nine-year career at Rest, Deborah feels now is the right time to focus on fresh challenges and move on to her next opportunity.”
The almost $90 billion fund is set to commence a comprehensive search to fill the role, with Andrew Ford, Rest’s general manager for brand and member experience, to step into the role in the interim.
Commenting on her departure, Potts said she loved the opportunity to make a real-life difference to its 2 million members.
“This has been a difficult decision to make but, after nine terrific years at Rest, now is the right time to shift focus. I’m incredibly proud of the team and all we have achieved together,” she said.
Prior to joining Rest, Potts spent more than three years as director of boutique research and consulting firm Sarala Consulting and a year and a half as national head of partnering and advice strategy at ipac financial services.
She was at BT Financial Group for eight years, most recently as national head for BT/Westpac-owned dealer group Magnitude.
Last month, Rest also announced the departure of its inaugural chief investment officer, Andrew Lill. At the time, it had also said a comprehensive search was underway for his successor.
In the interim, Simon Esposito, Rest’s head of private markets, and Kiran Singh, Rest’s head of listed assets, have been named co-chief investment officers.
