Jarden revamps leadership: Hires former UniSuper exec

Simon Hudson
SIMON HUDSON
Jarden Group - Managing Director, Co-Head, Superannuation Advisory Group
APPOINTMENT
JARDEN GROUP
Date: 26 October 2022
Position: Managing Director, Co-Head, Superannuation Advisory Group
By Elizabeth Fry

Jarden's Simon Hudson said the "Your Future, Your Super" legislation is a game changer for the industry and will have a profound impact on the way funds are managed.

The former UniSuper head of equities, Simon Hudson and his colleague Mark Himpoo joined Jarden to set up and run a new superannuation advisory group..

Hudson said there were many opportunities to help superannuation investment teams and committees given the challenges they currently face.

"We expect competition will intensify and put pressure on investment teams who are already stretched coping with rapid growth and meeting performance test objectives, alongside added complications of fund mergers," he added.

"Funds will be looking to improve their scalability and efficiency. As large, responsible investors, there will be increasing demands on their engagement with corporates from their members - they'll have to be able to prove their ESG credentials and impact.

"We've already started working with a broad range of super funds and can provide advice and hands-on management across a number of areas including portfolio construction, risk management and active engagement. Given our collective experience, we're in a position to help super funds achieve the best possible outcomes for their members."

Hudson, an industry stalwart, was hired 12 years ago from QIC when investment chief John Pearce began building the $108 billion superannuation fund's in-house investment capability.

Before that, he was a portfolio manager at First Sentier.

Meantime, Himpoo worked at the $108 billion UniSuper for almost 11 years landing from BlackRock, where he was head of Australian equities.

Previously, he held similar roles at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, Mercury Asset Management and Citibank Australia.

Also joining the new advisory group is former Macquarie Group strategist and portfolio manager, Stephen Ross.

The hires come as Jarden splits its business into two core business lines; wealth and the investment bank which has resulted in ina shake-up of the management team.

Jarden chief executive Robbie Vanderzeil will take on the role of chair and will focus on clients.

He will be replaced by Aidan Allen and Sarah Rennie as co-heads, joining the group's board.

Meanwhile, John Spencer and Ben Gilbert retain their respective roles as head of Australian equities and head of Australian research.

The New Zealand investment bank will be run by Sam Ricketts and Dan Reynolds.

Jarden Wealth will comprise the advisory business and its stakes in Hatch and Harbour Asset Management. It will be led by Malcolm Jackson as chief executive.