Former abrdn MD and F3 founder join recruitment advisory board

Former abrdn managing director Brett Jollie is among three senior financial services appointments to the advisory board of a Melbourne recruitment firm, Kaizen.

Kaizen Recruitment, which specialises in recruitment in the financial services sector, has set up the advisory board to bring industry experience and thought leadership to the business from senior investment management executives.

Jollie served as the managing director and chief executive, Australia, at abrdn from 2009 to 2023 before his departure last July, and was the chair of the Financial Services Council’s fund management board committee from 2013 to 2020. 

He was one of several departures at the asset manager as it moved to distributing its funds in Australia via SG Hiscock, with the firm also taking over management responsibility for its Australian equities business. 

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Since leaving abrdn, he has taken up a position as partner at investment management consultancy KONU, which aims to help investment and wealth managers seeking to transform the performance of their businesses with access to experienced industry practitioners.

Also joining the Kaizen advisory board is Camilla Love, the former head of institutional business at Perennial Value Management and founder of F3, an organisation that encourages women to take up jobs in financial services and provide them with work experience placements and internships.

Speaking to Money Management last year, Love said: “We must arm the next generation of female talent with the knowledge of what the financial services industry does. If we don’t break down those barriers, they’ll go to Apple or Google, or other big brand names they’ve grown up with instead of the hundreds of wonderful, strong, globally renowned financial services businesses in Australia.”

A second appointment from Perennial is Lewis Bearman, the firm’s former chief executive and chief operating officer. Since leaving Perennial in 2014, he has sat on the trustee board of Qualitas Group and as an independent director of Netwealth Superannuation.

Finally, the recruitment firm has changed the position of Nupur Gill from chief operating officer and director to an advisor role to focus on mentoring and guiding team members in light of her relocation to Toronto, Canada. 

Kaizen managing director, Matt McGilton, said: “Their collective insights and guidance will be invaluable in mentoring our team and enhancing our contributions to the industry. We are confident their leadership and expertise will propel us towards greater achievement and foster a culture of excellence within our organisation.”