AZ NGA appoints former Fitzpatricks chief as CFO
AZ NGA has announced a new group chief financial officer as the professional services firm looks to accelerate its growth.
The company has welcomed Jodie Blackledge into the group CFO position, reporting to group CEO Paul Barrett.
Blackledge brings nearly three decades of experience within financial services, having recently served as the chief executive of wealth management business Fitzpatricks Financial Group for more than six years.
She joined Fitzpatricks in 2018 and also held several other executive roles, including chief operating officer and chief financial officer.
Prior to this, Blackledge was the CFO at AUB Group and The Trust Company. She previously spent a decade at AMP as the head of strategy, program office and managing director’s office.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Jodie join AZ NGA at this important time for the business, as we focus on accelerating growth, expanding our range of services, and achieving our ambitious goals and targets,” Barrett said.
“Jodie will be working closely with me and the executive team to leverage our commercial finance capabilities and drive sustainable value for employees, clients and shareholders.”
Blackledge said she was thrilled to be commencing at AZ NGA as it eyes further partnerships with advice and accounting businesses.
“The financial advice sector has transformed over the last five to seven years, with the exit of the banks and the larger institutions and the rise of professional advisers. The investment AZ NGA is making in the industry will shape the future of advice for the next generation of advisers and clients,” the incoming CFO remarked.
Last December, Oaktree Capital Management completed its $240 million investment in AZ NGA, making Oaktree the largest shareholder in the company. Meanwhile, Azimut management and business owners retained a “strategic stake” in the company.
“AZ NGA, Azimut and Oaktree are committed to working together to accelerate M&A activity, drive organic growth and cement AZ NGA’s position as Australia’s finest professional services company,” the firm said.
At the time, Barrett explained that AZ NGA was seeking to triple in size over the next five years as a result of the major investment.
“We have ambitious goals to triple in size over the next three to five years, through a combination of M&A and organic growth, and our strategic partnership with Oaktree gives us the capital to fund our short- to medium-term plans and continue enhancing our proposition to accounting and advice businesses,” the CEO said.
“In the next 12 months, our focus is on accelerating our Super firm program, ramping up M&A activity, key transformation initiatives, and continuing to elevate to a high-performance culture.”
AUTHOR
Jasmine Siljic
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