IOOF announces advice restructure, appoints executives

Helen Blackford
HELEN BLACKFORD
Insignia Financial Ltd - CEO, Integrated Advice Businesses
APPOINTMENT
INSIGNIA FINANCIAL LTD
Date: September 2020
Position: CEO, Integrated Advice Businesses

Fresh off the announcement that IOOF will acquire MLC Wealth, CEO Renato Mota has announced a reorganisation of the firm's adviser-aligned businesses.

Helen Blackford, formerly head of Millennium3, will now lead the new grouping of integrated advice businesses, including Lonsdale, Millennium3, and IOOF Alliances.

Peter Ornsby, Terry Dillon, and Nathan Stanton have had a change in responsibilities within the organisation.

The move is part of IOOF's Advice 2.0 transformation strategy, which has lead to self-employed aligned adviser brands being grouped together.

"IOOF has been on the journey of reinventing advice for a number of years now, spearheaded by initiatives such as ClientFirst and the Advice Academy," said Mota.

"Advice 2.0 is our strategic response to both our transformation and that of the financial advice industry and it defines a new era." Mota says the changes will improve the quality and affordability of advice, as well as ensuring the model is sustainable.

"It is coming at a particularly crucial time," he said. "The current social and economic crisis has been a catalyst for people to address their financial wellbeing."

Blackford became the chief executive for Millennium3 in 2018. She previously held senior roles at ANZ and was the head of advice business services at Colonial First State and head of strategy for Commonwealth Financial Planning.