GM Strategic Relations departs Rest following restructure

Rest has confirmed that the role of general manager strategic relations, held by Craig Hobart since July 2016, has been made redundant.

Hobart joined the fund with 25 years' financial services' experience and was charged with "developing and implementing strategies to elevate relationships" with REST members and employers, the fund said at the time of his appointment.

Hobart's is one of five redundancies following a restructure of the executive team that also saw the creation of two new roles: group executive, employer and industry engagement, awarded to Deborah Potts; and group executive, people and change, awarded to Trevor Evans.

These two roles are the first of a total of six newly-created group executive roles that will lead Rest's new internal working groups: employer and industry engagement, people and change, product and operations, innovation and transformation, corporate services and member engagement. Recruitment is underway for the remaining roles, with announcements due in the coming weeks and months, the fund said.

Vicki Doyle, Rest's chief executive officer, said: "The formation of the new working groups under the leadership of interdependent Group Executives will drive outstanding member experience and enable collaborative and end-to-end oversight of member and employer engagement, design and product and operations execution."

In acknowledging Hobart's contribution, Doyle added: "I wish to thank Craig for his significant contribution to Rest since joining us in July 2016. Over those years Craig has lead the development of the Strategic Relations team, directed the introduction of the refreshed Rest Corporate, the expansion of Rest's advice and establishment of our education offering with over 5,000 Statements of Advice and around 400 seminars delivered to Rest members across Australia last financial year."

Leaving the $51 billion fund in addition to Hobart are: Beth Parkin, general manager, customer service; Sandra Coleman, general manager, transformation and technology; Chris Stevens, chief financial officer; and Paul Howard, general counsel and company secretary.

Editors note: Departing executives will assist with the relevant transition over the next few months, a spokesperson for Rest confirmed. The departure date of 1 January 2019 below is indicative only and will be updated as more information is made available.