PEOPLE

Eat My Lunch founder, Lisa King joins Simplicity

Salt beefs up its team with the appointment of a former AMP Capital manager. Salt Funds Management has appointed Greg McMaster as its head of client partnerships.

Salt has made significant commitments to its research-driven investment process over the last year. By hiring Greg, the company is now looking to emphasise its client-centric business model, with high service levels and quality investment products. Salt sees significant growth opportunities in the New Zealand market and McMaster adds widely-acknowledged expertise in marketing, client partnerships and commercial capability, the company says.

“Greg becomes available to us at an opportune moment and we are delighted to add his extensive experience in maintaining and growing strong partnerships with a wide set of clients.”

“Salt is keen to utilise Greg’s skills to further increase our engagement with our client base, allowing us to constantly be aware of our clients’ needs and their desired investment outcomes in these difficult and volatile times.” said Paul Harrison, managing director.

McMaster has spent more than eight years at AMP Capital where he was, most recently, head of clients. The founder of Eat My Lunch and New Zealander of the Year finalist, Lisa King has found a new home at Simplicity.

King has joined Simplicity as consulting brand director, focusing on growing the Simplicity brand and presence across New Zealand.

King believes that business should have a social purpose. She has been admiring Simplicity’s progress for a number of years, and believes the company has the potential to revolutionise the finance sector in New Zealand.

“I love Simplicity’s mission and values which absolutely align to my own,” says King. “It’s an opportunity for me to be part of another purpose driven organisation that will

Former AMP Capital man joins Salt

have a massive impact on the lives of so many Kiwis.”

Kiwi Invest reveal new asset allocation strategist

Kiwi Invest has brought on former Sanlam Investments head of portfolio construction, Peter Urbani, as its new asset allocation strategist.

Urbani has been working with Kiwi Invest since the end of June but Covid-19 lockdown restrictions have meant that he has been working remotely out of Cape Town. He hopes to join the physical New Zealand offices by the end of this year.

Urbani’s previous role at South African global asset manager Sanlam has seen him heavily involved with top level multi-asset portfolio construction and manager selection. At Kiwi Invest he will be driving the build of their asset allocation framework and working with the investment team to scope and implement improvements to their portfolios. Some of the highest priority topics are allocation to Australasian equities, fixed income benchmarks and decarbonisation.

New head of life for Asteron Life

Chief strategy officer of AIA New Zealand, Angela Busby has been appointed chair of Tahito Limited.

Busby has more than 25 years of experience in financial markets – leading teams and developing strategies. Prior to joining AIA New Zealand, Busby held roles as chief people and culture officer at Sovereign, managing principal of ASB Securities and general manager of Aegis.

Tahito provides ethical and sustainable investment services. It has a unique way of measuring companies using Maori ancestral knowledge combined with sophisticated ESG data capture technology and strong financial analysis.

Tahito is a subsidiary of the Investment Services Group. Suncorp New Zealand has today announced the appointment of Grant Willis into the newly established head of life role.

Willis will oversee the core functions of Asteron Life, including sales, operations, product, pricing, claims and client servicing.

He commences the role immediately, moving from his current position executive manager – life, in insurance solutions.

Willis has a professional background in life and general insurance, banking and funds management, holding senior roles at a range of companies including AIG NZ, Colonial Fiji (a subsidiary of CBA), ASB and Sovereign

Tahito announces AIA chief strategy officer as chair

before coming to Asteron Life in 2011.

FMA appoints director of investment management

The Financial Markets Authority has turned to a local funds management firm to find its director of investment management, Paul Gregory, chief operating officer at Pie Funds.

Gregory was director of external communications and investor capability before moving to Pie Funds in 2017.

He has also been manager of the portfolio intelligence function at the New Zealand Super Fund.

In his new role, he will lead the regulator's focus on and regulation of the retail investment management sector, including KiwiSaver.

“This new position reflects this sector’s importance to the FMA. Paul has been living and breathing retail funds management in his prior role and I am delighted to take advantage of his passion for getting the best investor outcomes from fund managers and KiwiSaver providers," said FMA chief executive Rob Everett.

Gregory will begin in the role in November. A