2015 - Industry Moves Year in Review

People on the move

In 2015 we brought you 1,150 moves comprising 635 appointments and 415 departures. We also conducted 127 Q&As that helped to shine a light on the personalities behind some of these moves. So as the year draws to an end we take a look back at some of the year's biggest appointments and departures, highlight a few of our favourite Q&As and share with you some stats that made the Industry Moves team very happy.

The biggest moves by month of 2015

January - Funds SA CEO Retires

February - HESTA CEO to step down after 16 years

March - J.P. Morgan names new Head of Product

April - Head of Research at Advance bids farewell

May - Pierre Kraft to head new Countplus business

June - Jenni Mack joins the board of Sunsuper

July - VicSuper appoints head of equities and alternatives

August - Elana Rubin joins the board of VFMC

September - New Country head for Northern Trust Australia & NZ

October - Former NAB head sets up boutique consultancy

November - Reilly appointed as NAB AM's first COO

December - EISS names new CIO

You can search for a complete list of any appointments and/or departures in a given month using the dropdown boxes on the Moves page.

For example, select December 2015 and Appointments only to see the list of 21 appointments reported so far this month. Click here to view!

Report a Move Did we miss your move?
Or do you have a new move coming up?
Click here to let the industry know.

And here's why we love doing what we do....

You came to visit us in droves

We're delighted to share our website stats since launching Industry Moves in March 2014 and we're confident that these stats will continue to grow in 2016!

View full-sized table

Web stats since launch

Some of our favourite Q&As

Jane Perry We loved the image of Jane and her husband heading off in their caravan for the next big adventure...

Q&A with Jane Perry, retiring CEO at Qantas Super
Jane Perry is retiring from Qantas Super this month after four years in the top job. As she tells Industry Moves, she had a plan - a good one - and now the time is right to enact it. Jane looks back on her time with the fund and names the highlights and the people she'll miss the most. She also shares some sound advice - "Don't forget to pick the daisies!" Read Q&A

Sally McCutchan We admired Sally and her drive to make a difference via social impact investing...

Q&A with Sally McCutchan, Executive Director, Impact Investing Australia
Sally McCutchan joined Impact Investing Australia as a volunteer in May 2015 and recently formalised her role as an executive director. She tells Industry Moves why the time was right to move into a more socially focused role, and about her work in developing Impact Capital Australia, a new $300m financial institution to scale impact investing in Australia. She also shares two secret talents - one to die for and one to... well... you'll have to read and make up your own mind. Read Q&A

Tuan Ha We were behind Tuan and his quest for a new career in Australia...

Q&A with Tuan Ha, recently appointed analyst on contract at J. P. Morgan
Tuan Ha, an acclaimed stock analyst in Vietnam, migrated to Australia with his family in 2013. Having previously gained a degree at the University of Melbourne he has found the transition to living in Australia very easy, though, as he tells Industry Moves, the main challenge he faces is in realising his ambition to manage a fund which invests in stocks across the Australasian region, including Vietnam. Read Q&A

Tim Cheung We were amused and surprised by Tim's childhood and heroes...

Q&A with Tim Cheung, Global Equities Analyst, Perpetual Investments
In a very entertaining Q&A, global equities analyst Tim Cheung tells Industry Moves that he's looking forward to "helping Perpetual replicate its success in Australian funds in the global equities space;" names some lessons learnt over the course of his career; shares the reasons why Arnold Schwarzenegger is his greatest hero; and admits to a sporting win while wearing spandex. Read Q&A

Bill Laister We were infected with Bill's zest for life...

Q&A with Bill Laister, Senior Portfolio Manager, Contango
From his first ever job as an 'operator' on the trading floor to joining Contango Asset Management 18 years ago, Bill Laister has loved the challenge and excitement of the financial markets. In a Q&A that covers his career progression, a hole in one, challenges ahead, and the fish that didn't get away (we have the photo to prove it!), Bill tells Industry Moves what he enjoys most about his role as a micro-cap portfolio manager and why he considers funds management to be an art as much as a science. Read Q&A

Elana Rubin We were impressed by Elana's uncompromising view on the need for board quotas...

Q&A with Elana Rubin, Director, VFMC
Elana Rubin, former AustralianSuper chair, has joined the board of Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC). In a Q&A that never shies away from the big issues, Elana tells Industry Moves what drew her to VFMC; shares her view on the need for board quotas; and explains how she balances the decision of profit vs ethical investing. She also offers some sage advice for rookie directors that includes, 'be yourself and don't be afraid to take risks'.. Read Q&A

Mikolai Napieralski We found Mikolai to be a breath of fresh air...

Q&A with Mikolai Napieralski, Content Marketing Consultant, Equipsuper
Mikolai Napieralski has been appointed to the role of content marketing consultant at Equipsuper (Equip), with responsibility for creating targeted communications and content for existing and potential members. Mikolai's very first job was writing game and CD reviews for a Brisbane newspaper. His experience since includes tone of voice guides for BHP and IBM's social media strategy as well as writing for the Age and The Guardian and his own publication, Team Evil. With a thoroughly modern approach to communications and storytelling Mikolai tells industry Moves he's looking forward to making Equip stand out from the crowd. Read Q&A

Aongus O We concurred with Aongus' advice for ensuring a great weekend...

Q&A with Aongus O'Gorman, Senior Consultant, Towers Watson
Towers Watson has appointed Aongus O'Gorman as a senior consultant specialising in liquid diversifying strategies, based in its Sydney office. Aongus previously ran a boutique consultancy, Round Tower Solutions, and he tells Industry Moves that one of the things he's most looking forward to in the new role is working in a larger team again. He also shares his knack for ensuring an excellent weekend and an eclectic list of people that he most admires and why. Read Q&A

Melissa Widner We loved that Melissa quoted Willy Wonka...

Q&A with Melissa Widner, Venture Partner, OneVentures
Sydney-based venture capital firm OneVentures has announced the appointment of technology investor and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Melissa Widner as venture partner. In a Q&A that reveals her entrepreneurial spirit was well and truly woken by the age of ten, Melissa tells Industry Moves who she admires most and uses a beautiful Willy Wonka quote to explain why. Read Q&A

Stefano Cavaglia We were awed by Stefano's stories & passion...

Q&A with Stefano Cavaglia, Head of Investment Research, Findex Group
The Findex Group has appointed Dr Stefano Cavaglia as its head of investment research. In a Q&A that covers topics as diverse as the Nobel Peace Prize, gardening, the Czech invasion of 1968, J.D. Rockefeller, and a desire to "pulverizzze" competitors, Dr Stefano Cavaglia talks to Industry Moves. Read Q&A

Linda Trusler We were delighted to read of Linda's eclectic inspirations...

Q&A with Linda Trusler, Venture Partner, OneVentures
Australian equities boutique, DMP Asset Management has appointed Linda Trusler as a fund manager. Linda has over 20 years' experience, including her most recent role as a senior investment analyst at Catholic Church Insurance (CCI). She tells Industry Moves that she is privileged to be working alongside the DMP investment team - "an elite breed" - and the reason why she admires a lovable, upbeat cartoon character. Read Q&A

Jason Clarke We belly-laughed when Jason shared some advice he'd been given...

Q&A with Jason Clarke, Director, Recreo Financial Technologies
Former Lonsec Fiscal Group CEO Jason Clarke has been appointed as a director at Recreo Financial Technologies. In a very entertaining Q&A, Jason tells Industry Moves about his first job (underage, underpaid & unsuitable), his new role, where he will have the opportunity to develop ideas and explore new technologies, and his foray into music production in the 90s. Read Q&A

Vivienne Lee We were moved by Vivienne's 'theory of abundance'...

Q&A with Vivienne Lee, Senior Manager - Institutional Business, Grant Samuel Funds Management
Grant Samuel Funds Management (GSFM) has appointed Vivienne Lee to the newly created role of senior manager - institutional business. Vivienne tells Industry Moves about the new role and what makes GSFM products unique. Plus she names the people she most admires, and why; and shares a story of being introduced to the theory of abundance and how it changed her view of life. Read Q&A

Roger McIntosh BUT Roger's Q&A is our all-time favourite! It includes Eddie McGuire, twins and a rather large cheque...

Q&A with Roger McIntosh, Portfolio Manager, API Capital
Former head of investments at LUCRF, Roger McIntosh, has joined co-founders Robert Swift and Tony Sutton at API Capital, an independently owned investment management firm specialising in global equity portfolios. Roger tells Industry Moves what drew him to the new role, the advice that led him to an early career change, and about that time he almost won $250,000. Read Q&A