The former AMP-owned dealer group head joined Hillross in 2006 following time as the head of AMP's life insurance business and marketing operations in New Zealand.
Centric chairman Philip Kelly, who had been acting as the group's chief executive since the resignation of Michael Pillemer last year, said McMurdo would start his new job in the first week of March.
Kelly said there was interest from a number of high-quality candidates, however, McMurdo's skills and broad experience were the ideal fit for Centric's requirements.
Centric was entering into a phase of growth, which was why McMurdo's track record in marketing and expanding businesses was particularly important to Centric, he said.
"We hope to be of a certain size and quality over the next few years as we have intentions to list Centric Wealth some time within the next three to five years," he said.
An AMP spokesperson said a search was currently underway to replace McMurdo and Hillross head of growth and mergers and acquisitions Ray Djani would be acting managing director.
