Howard joins HESTA investment team

Stephen Howard is the latest addition to the HESTA investment team. The former Vanguard head of fixed income has been named general manager of defensive.

HESTA investments chief Sonya Sawtell-Rickson welcomed Howard to the fund. "Stephen will be leading the next phase of our internalisation journey, as we move to internally manage fixed interest and cash instruments," she said. "It's exciting to have Stephen come on board as he has a proven track record of investing significant portfolios, managing highly successful teams, and leading strategic thinking."

For the last two years, Howard has been a portfolio manager in the Medibank treasury and investments team, overseeing liquidity management and managing debt and convertible note portfolios. He spent more than a decade with Vanguard Australia's fixed income portfolio and was the manager of the Treasury Corporation of Victoria's quantitative services and portfolio services.

Howard said that HESTA's growth plans attracted him to the organisation. "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we've witnessed first-hand the critical role health care providers play within our community. I'm thrilled to be joining HESTA and to have the opportunity to help our members achieve their investment and retirement savings goals."