C-suite exec departs MLC Asset Management
The chief commercial officer at MLC Asset Management has stepped down after five years as the firm reviews its leadership.
Jason Komadina joined MLC in January 2020, following six years at Perpetual Private, and initially worked as a managed accounts director. In January 2022, he was promoted to general manager for direct capabilities and specialist investment.
As well as Perpetual Private, he also worked at Nabinvest Capital Partners, MLC and Perpetual Ltd covering areas such as platforms and administration, advice and wealth management.
MLC Asset Management is a business division of Insignia Financial; an Insignia spokesperson confirmed his departure.
In its recent Investor Day, Insignia announced it is keen for MLC Asset Management to expand and grow new channels in private equity and alternatives, and accelerate market penetration of its managed account offering.
There is an opportunity, it said, for net flows to reach $3–4 billion by FY30.
Therefore strategic priorities for MLC are further commercialisation of private equity and alternatives growth, enhancing external distribution propositions, enhancing relationships with retail asset consultants, and supporting managed account growth as portfolio building blocks.
Earlier this month, Insignia announced a new team to lead strategy and innovation in its retirement solutions team for the MLC brand.
The firm has welcomed Andrew Howard to lead the new function as executive director of strategy and innovation. Most recently, he was the chief commercial officer for group life and investments at TAL Australia.
Alongside Howard, Insignia has also appointed Ashton Jones, Scott Manson and Jeffrey Hopson in the newly formed strategy and innovation team.
Jones joins as director of customer innovation, Insignia confirmed. He holds over 15 years’ experience in wealth and retirement and was formerly the general manager for growth, retirement and wealth partnerships at TAL.
Manson will commence as head of technical solutions and has more than 18 years of experience across superannuation, investments and retirement. Most recently, he was the head of pricing at TAL Australia.
Meanwhile, Hopson has been with Insignia as its head of enterprise strategy since 2021. Prior to this, he has more than 18 years of experience in strategy roles at NAB and Deutsche Bank.
Recommended for you
Compared to four years ago when the divide between boutique and large licensees were largely equal, adviser movements have seen this trend shift in light of new licensees commencing.
As ongoing market uncertainty sees advisers look beyond traditional equity exposure, Fidante has found adviser interest in small caps and emerging markets for portfolio returns has almost doubled since April.
CoreData has shared the top areas of demand for cryptocurrency advice but finds investors are seeking advisers who actively invest in the asset themselves.
With regulators ‘raising the bar’ on retirement planning, Lonsec Research and Ratings has urged advisers to place greater focus on sequencing and longevity risk as they navigate clients through the shifting landscape.

