Fitzpatricks promotes chief exec

Jodie Blackledge, chief financial officer and chief operating officer for advisory and wealth management firm Fitzpatricks Financial Group since mid-2018 has been promoted to chief executive.

She takes over the role from co-founder and now executive chair John Woodley who said, "Celebrating 20 years of partnering with advisers, I am excited to have Jodie take the lead on this new chapter as our CEO.

"I am excited to take on this new role and confident I leave the Group CEO role in the very capable hands of Jodie, who will help build the next part of our journey as a national advisory and wealth firm."

Blackledge has significant experience across a diverse set of financial services organisations. She spent more than a decade with AMP corporate strategy and M&A operations, was a strategy lead with Bank of America N.A. and the CFO of The Trust Company. Before joining Fitzpatricks, she was the CFO for AUB Group Limited, an ASX-listed, equity-based insurance advice network.

"I am delighted to have been appointed as the new CEO of the Group and I am looking forward to shaping the future for our firm as the role of high-quality, client-centric advice becomes ever more vital," said Blackledge. "I look forward to building our national presence and our Lead Adviser cohort, but also continuing our commitment in providing a high-level of support and mentoring to women by actively encouraging the growth of female professionals within the Group and beyond."