JANA expands not-for-profit team

JANA, the investment consultant, has appointed Kevin Fernando as client development director to its not-for-profit (NFP) division.

In his new role, Fernando will support JANA in continuing to develop its NFP offering to meet increasing demand and grow market share.

He was previously the founder and managing director of Mercury Associates, an independent NFP investment consultant.

There, Fernando provided governance and operational oversight support to assist not-for-profit boards and investment committees to engage with their investment managers.

Before starting Mercury Associates, he worked as a private client manager for National Australia Bank and a private banking associate at ANZ.

"Kevin has a proven track record in supporting fundraising organisations to meet their long-term growth objectives and achieve their purpose," said Michael Maher, JANA's co-head of NFP clients.

"His expertise on NFP governance and operations will provide invaluable insight for clients as they look to navigate the unique challenges facing this sector at this time."

Added Fernando: "I was drawn to JANA because of its core purpose that together, we have the power to make a real difference. It's incredibly important to me that I belong to an organisation that is committed to giving back and working towards a better, more sustainable future,"

"The challenges facing the NFP sector are complex and fast-changing. I look forward to sharing my expertise and applying my insights to support JANA's NFP clients to manage interest in and pressure for responsible investing, rising costs of investment management, cash flow, and liquidity issues, and the need to preserve cash flow in 'down' markets.

The not-for-profit sector is one of JANA's fastest-growing client groups, comprising close to half of its clients by number.

The consultant can count TUH Health Fund, Seventh Day Adventist, and Foundation North, New Zealand's largest philanthropic trust among its clients.