Cbus revamps investment team

Alexandra Payn
ALEXANDRA PAYN
Cbus Property Pty Limited - Head of Private Markets and Infrastructure
APPOINTMENT
CBUS PROPERTY PTY LIMITED
Date: 15 December 2021
Position: Head of Private Markets and Infrastructure
By Elizabeth Fry

The $67 billion superannuation fund has strengthened its investment team with a series of appointments, including Alexandra Campbell as head of private markets and infrastructure.

Campbell replaces Grant Harrison, who will retire early next year after nine years with the fund.

In her new role, she will manage the private market assets in Cbus's investment portfolio and work with the infrastructure, property, and private equity teams to develop portfolio strategies and investment opportunities.

Campbell will also continue to lead the infrastructure portfolio.

Also joining, is Steward Tan, who has been appointed head of markets, asset allocation.

Tan was previously a senior portfolio manager at Victorian Funds Manager Corporation.

In his new role, he is responsible for developing an investment strategy at the asset allocation level for Cbus diversified investment options and enhancing the fund's dynamic asset allocation process.

The industry fund for building and conduction has also recruited Lisa Cuman as head of investment legal and governance.

She joins from Citigroup.

Before that, Cuman worked for King & Wood Mallesons and Herbert Smith Freehills.

Finally, Ash Chandra has been appointed research director of global quality equities.

Chandra was previously an executive director and emerging companies analyst at Goldman Sachs.

"We are delighted to welcome these key appointments to our experienced and dynamic team, said Cbus investment chief Kristian Fok.

"The roles support internalisation and our total portfolio approach which are central to our continued outperformance and to maximising the retirement savings of our members," he added.

Fok noted that almost 40 percent of the fund's assets are managed in-house when including hybrid strategies.

The investment chief said the fund's strategy to bring investments in-house and to build a strong investment capability internally had exceeded expectations.

"Since 2017, our investment costs have reduced by 41 percent, which has provided a cumulative benefit to members of $410 million over the last four years, he pointed out.

Fok noted that the benefits of establishing a broad internal investment capability spread far beyond the cost savings for members.

They included obtaining greater insights for the asset allocation process, improved external manager selection, highly efficient liquidity and exposure management, extensive incorporation of responsible investing principles to drive long-term sustainable returns, and more granular risk and performance analytics.

"All of this combines to continue to deliver strong returns to our members."

Importantly, Fok acknowledged Harrison's exceptional career in funds management and superannuation and his commitment to delivering great outcomes for Cbus members.