AZ NGA nabs Hub24 growth head

HUB24 chief growth officer has jumped to AZ NGA, the professional services group, to take on the newly-created role of executive general manager.

AZ NGA - which invests in advisory firms -  has hired Chesne Stafford to help bolster its personal advice arm.

Stafford will report to AZ NGA chief executive Paul Barrett when she starts with the firm in July 2024.

Commenting on the appointment, Barrett said that Stafford is a strong leader with a proven record of driving growth and delivering value to clients.

He said the company was pleased to have her on board as it sought to accelerate growth and develop a customer strategy to cement AZ NGA's position as Australia's leading professional advisory business mainly in the wealth area.

Funded by Milan-listed Azimus, AZ NGA is on a drive to mop up smaller financial planning firms and has been building scale as the banks withdraw from the personal advice business.

"AZ NGA is maturing and changing shape ...as we seize the enormous opportunity to fill the void left by the institutional exit from personal advice," Barrett added.

"We want to partner with accounting and advisory firms to deliver quality advice to more Australians."

Stafford has over 25 years of financial services experience, spanning superannuation, wealth management, life insurance and advice.

She joined HUB24 in 2022 from MetLife, where she held several senior roles, including head of distribution and chief customer and marketing officer.

Before her seven-year stint at the insurer, she spent ten years at OnePath and MLC in sales and financial advice strategy roles.

"Financial advice is life-changing, and this role enables me to make a greater difference
in helping more people get access through the growth and prosperity of high-quality wealth firms," Stafford said.

"I'm inspired by what has been achieved so far and the opportunity ahead of us to
continue to shape the Australian wealth industry."