Russell hires trio for eastern expansion

Multi-manager Russell Investment Group has bulked up its presence in the eastern states with three new executive hires following its recent success in winning a spate of fresh mandates.

Joining the Melbourne office is former AXA staffer Peter Burnett.

Burnett brings experience including five years with Westpac Financial Services in Queensland as manager, financial consulting and has spent time in senior roles with Citibank Financial Services.

Russell’s director of retail investment services Chris Corneil says Burnett will spearhead Russell’s Victorian business and will also service Russell’s business in Tasmania.

The appointment of Burnett follows Russell’s successful deal, worth an initial $180 million with financial planning dealership Australian Financial Services (AFS) to manage its superannuation investment arrangements.

“A key component of his role is to service our new partnership with AFS as well as boutique dealer groups aligned with Russell,” Corneil says.

The group has also appointed its first full time Brisbane based associate with the hiring of Andrew Jago as regional manager.

This follows Russell’s successful tendering in August for an investment mandate with Queensland superannuation fund, Sunsuper.

Jago was previously financial director and co-founder of Timber Australia and has also run is own financial planning business.

Rounding off the recruitment drive is former ING staffer Linda Stangherlin who joins the Sydney operation.

Stangherlin comes on board as retail manager and will focus initially on managing and developing the groups presence across NSW and the ACT.

Prior to her posting at ING, where she worked as national manager - funds management, Stangherlin held business development roles with HSBC Asset Management and St George Bank.