BT has appointed Annabelle Kline as its new chief product officer, joining from Macquarie Bank.
Joining the firm on 1 May 2024, she moves over to BT from Macquarie Bank where she spent 23 years including a period as chief product owner for wealth management and as head of value-added services and platforms.
In her final role, which she held from April 2022, she was responsible for developing and executing the platform strategy at Macquarie Business Bank.
Prior to joining Macquarie, she spent three years as senior policy manager at the Financial Services Council (FSC).
At BT, she will be responsible for leading the firm’s platform business and playing a key role on the BT leadership team. Her appointment will replace Kathy Vincent who left the firm after five years at the end of 2023 to join superannuation fund Australian Retirement Trust (ART) as chief of retirement.
Vincent also spent almost 20 years at Macquarie before joining BT.
BT chief executive, Matthew Rady, said: “Annabelle joins us at an important time where we’re focused on growth and continuing to build our offer to help quality financial advice to thrive.
“Following Westpac’s decision to retain the BT, we’re looking forward to the future and building a simpler and stronger business.”
Kline said: “I’m excited to join BT particularly at a time when the business is gaining momentum and investing in tech transformation and simplification to enhance the adviser and investor experience.”
BT Panorama has $110 billion in funds under management and looks after investment and retirement savings for 243,000 Australians.
According to the latest Adviser Ratings’ Landscape Report, BT Panorama has the highest penetration among advisers followed by CFS FirstChoice and HUB24.
“As a consequence of that, Westpac sees an amazing opportunity to invest in the business for years to come and recognise the strength we have in the market,” Rady said at the time.
It has also welcomed back Russell Brinckley from FNZ as head of strategy and development and appointed Jason Brown as head of the platform’s 70-strong distribution team.
