Morningstar hires Di Cristoforo as director of research products

Morningstar Australasia (Morningstar) has hired Rick Di Cristoforo to the newly created position of director of research products, where he will be responsible for the firm's research product lines.

"Rick brings over 20 years experience in advice, with a deep understanding of the needs of advisers and licensees, and a passion for empowering adviser and investor success," Morningstar head of product and client solutions, Graham Dixon, said.

Di Cristoforo's responsibilities will include the Adviser Research Centre and Research Advisory, Morningstar's investment advisory offering and model portfolios and managed accounts. He will also partner closely with director of financial planning products, Ivon Gower, to enhance Morningstar's end-to-end solutions for advisers.

"Morningstar has such a depth of capability and expertise in investment research and portfolio construction. The opportunity to package these capabilities in different ways to support advisers' investment propositions is really exciting," Di Cristoforo said.

Di Cristoforo's experience includes senior roles at Colonial First State, Commonwealth Bank, KPMG and Matrix Planning Solutions.