Australia’s largest superannuation fund, AustralianSuper, has sought to strengthen its global operations with a range of senior appointments based in the UK.
Currently, approximately half of AustralianSuper’s $300 billion in assets are invested outside of Australia, including more than $40 billion in the UK and Europe.
The fund, which is projected to grow to more than $500 billion over the next five years, is planning to deploy almost 70 per cent of its growing inflows into global markets.
According to AustralianSuper, the new appointments will play a pivotal role in helping the fund to develop and implement its international investment model, grow its global investment footprint, and enhance its offshore operational capability.
“Since opening our office in the UK seven years ago, we have sought the best talent to enable us to build our investment platform and improve our global presence, with the aim of driving sustainable long-term performance for more than 3.1 million members,” said Damian Moloney, deputy chief investment officer (CIO) at AustralianSuper.
Mr Moloney described AustralianSuper’s London office as “an important investment engine” for the fund and said that capabilities were in place across private, public, and capital markets.
“We’re building a high-calibre and experienced team in London to ensure the fund is strategically positioned in a market that will create many opportunities to generate excellent long-term returns for members,” he added.
The new senior hires include John Normand, who will join the super fund as its head of investment strategy later this month after spending 24 years at JP Morgan, where he most recently served as head of cross-asset strategy.
Mr Normand will lead AustralianSuper’s asset allocation research team which drives investment strategy across all major asset classes.
Deborah Gilshan has been named as head of ESG and stewardship, Europe, and will oversee the fund’s ESG and stewardship programs in public and private markets in Europe, including interacting with stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies.
She has over 22 years of experience in global investment stewardship, shareholder engagement, and ESG integration, including more than 18 years at the large institutional investors Railpen, Aberdeen Standard Investments, and the UK’s Co-operative Insurance Society.
William Manfield has been appointed head of group risk, international, joining AustralianSuper from BNP Paribas Asset Management and bringing over 25 years of experience to the role.
He is responsible for the strategic direction of the risk and compliance function in the international offices, including the implementation and ongoing effectiveness of the fund’s risk management framework, as well as ensuring alignment to local regulatory requirements.
Amanda Mitchell joins the super fund as head of corporate affairs, Europe, after spending 16 years at Macquarie Group, including most recently as head of corporate affairs for the firm’s global asset management business.
Her responsibilities include providing strategic advice and support to AustralianSuper’s London and New York offices across a range of communications and stakeholder engagement activities, including asset acquisitions and divestments, media relations, issues and reputation management, and government affairs.
Meanwhile, Sujay Shah previously joined AustralianSuper as head of internal government portfolios. He has over 18 years’ experience in central banking, discretionary trading, and active portfolio management across interest rate and FX markets and currently manages the fund’s government bonds portfolios and team split across the UK and Australia.
Carl Astorri has returned to London to take up the role of head of investments, Europe. He is responsible for building and leading the fund’s London-based investment team as it expands its public and private markets capability.
In June, AustralianSuper also announced the appointment of Mr Moloney as deputy CIO.
Jon Bragg
Jon Bragg is a journalist for Momentum Media's Investor Daily, nestegg and ifa. He enjoys writing about a wide variety of financial topics and issues and exploring the many implications they have on all aspects of life.
