Colonial poaches Bissaker from BT

In oneof this year’s biggest recruiting coup’s, Colonial First State has signed up one of BT Funds Management’s (BTFM) highest profile senior executives, Brian Bissaker, to take on the role of general manager of product strategy.

Bissaker rose to the level of executive vice president in his eight years at BTFM, and most recently held the postion as head of product.

The new appointment will make Bissaker the first ever general manager of product strategy at Colonial First State and his addition was the result of him being head hunted specifically for the role by Colonial First State chief executive, Chris Cuffe.

“We have not had a head of product strategy before, but the growth we have experienced in our products and funds meant that we needed someone who could drive this area of the business to its maximum potential,” Cuffe says.

The new role will give Bissaker responsibility for the strategy leading to the development of all future Colonial First State products, except those related to direct property.

He is also expected to embark on a project to examine the structure, including the pricing and viability, of Colonial’s existing product range.

Bissaker is also likely to play a leading role in Colonial’s push to convince the Government to change restrictive tax requirements on growth pensions.