Octopus promotes distribution staffer

Sophie Gibbons has been named head of distribution, product, and marketing at Octopus Investments, the renewable energy developer and asset manager.

In her new role, Gibbons will look after distribution client and fund operations, new product development and marketing.

The job overseeing wholesale and institutional sales is a promotion for Gibbons, who has been head of wholesale products for three years.

Octopus managing director Sam Reynolds said Gibbons had great success establishing and raising the firm's wholesale fund, Octopus Renewable Energy Opportunities Funds.

The fund offers wholesale investors the opportunity to invest alongside big institutional investors in renewable energy assets.

"Sophie has the right balance to manage our culture and customers to ensure our funds deliver on our promises. We are excited to see Sophie step into her new role of managing a team of ten and sitting across distribution, operations, products and marketing."

Reynolds said Octopus is growing quickly and attracting interest from the investment market, recently adding REST superannuation fund to a stable of investors that includes Hostplus super, the federal government's CEFC and Sky Renewables UK.

Gibbons switched to the renewables manager from a mainstream asset manager because of the opportunity to "build something meaningful', the fast-paced environment and the growth mentality.

"The opportunity to combine my background in funds management with a firm that is investing in a sector that creates a better environment for the future appealed," she added.

Previous roles included head of distribution of distribution at K2 Asset Management, national key accounts manager at Challenger, senior investment manager at Zenith Investment Partners and client services at Morgan Stanley.

Launched in 2018, Octopus Investments Australia forms part of the longstanding Octopus Group that collectively manages more than $15 billion over multiple strategies.