Employer Director joins newly-merged Equip board

Equip has announced its merger with the Rio Tinto Staff Superannuation Fund, to form a $14 billion fund under the Equip name. As part of the merger, Equip's board has undergone a restructure with the appointment of three additional directors that will bring the board to the one third/one third/one third governance model.

Mark Cerche joins the board as an employer director, effective 1 July 2017. He has more than 35 years' experience in superannuation, estate planning and administration, elder law, funds management and corporate and securities law. He retired as a partner of Allens after 36 years and continues as a consultant to the firm.

He is chair of the Corporate Superannuation Association and a member of the Law Council of Australia's Superannuation Committee. In these roles, Cerche has had significant contact with Treasury officials and Parliamentary Committees and Working Groups in connection with Superannuation and Financial Services Law in Australia.

Also joining Cerche on the Equip board are independent directors, Justine Hickey and Wayne Walker.

Commenting on the changes at Equip, chair, Andrew Fairley, said: "We have established a clear and unique position in the corporate superannuation marketplace, which bridges the gap between profit-for-member industry funds and retail master trusts."

"This is a strong signal to other major corporate funds that we are a superannuation provider with which they can confidently do business, whether by merging into Equip, or participating in the fund's Extended Public Offer structure, which provides shared trusteeship and flexible options for investment management and member administration."