ING hones adviser distribution focus
By Craig Phillips
ING Australiahas revamped its sales and distribution management structure to sharpen its focus on specific adviser distribution channels.
The group has assigned managers to focus on each of its major adviser distribution channels — ANZ, boutiques/non-aligned advisers and national firms. Previously all areas were collectively the responsibility of the national sales team.
ING has also created two roles as part of the changes — a head of states and operations and a head of national product distribution.
Executive director sales and national distribution Charles Smith will oversee the new structure and take responsibility for revenue targets and overall sales performance.
His team consists of Grant Pearson, who is responsible for boutiques and non-aligned advisers, John Suter, who is taking up the role of head of states and operations, and Roslyn Shirlaw, who will drive product distribution across all major channels in her capacity as head of national product distribution.
“This new structure and channel focus meets the challenges of a rapidly changing and maturing industry. Particular channels have particular needs that require specialist servicing” Smith says.
The group is conducting a recruitment search to fill the ANZ and national firm roles.
“The industry has developed into broadly differentiated sectors and we believe our more specialist approach positions us well to respond to the new environment and create new opportunities,” ING Australia chief executive officer Paul Bedbrook says.
Recommended for you
The profession is up by almost 200 advisers for the new financial year, with August continuing the consistent weekly positive gains.
WT Financial has announced its second “Hubco” with a combined valuation of $7.8 million, while its first one has successfully incorporated and is now making its own acquisitions.
The Australian Wealth Advisors Group has entered into a joint venture with a Melbourne financial services firm to launch a wealth manager.
Remediation and litigation costs have led AMP to announce a reduced statutory net profit after tax of $98 million for the first half of 2025.
