IFM Investors appoints external relations global head

IFM Investors has announced the appointment of David Whiteley to the newly-established role global head, external relations.

In his new role, in which he would be reporting directly to IFM Investors’ chief executive Brett Himbury, Whiteley would be responsible for leading the firm’s public policy agenda internationally and managing the firm’s relationships with government, media, shareholders and industry groups.

Whiteley would bring extensive experience in this to the role, having been chief executive of Industry Super Australia (ISA) for the last 12 years. The advocacy organisation announced his departure last Friday.

Himbury said that Whiteley’s track record of policy outcomes for Australian industry fund investors would also contribute to the firm’s capacity to invest in economic and intellectual capital.

“We aspire to be the world’s most trusted institutional funds manager, with a differentiated investor-owned model, and a culture which allows us to focus on maximising investor returns and harnessing the benefits of scale,” Himbury said.

“In recent years, IFM Investors has gone from a well-regarded Australian institution to a globally respected institutional funds manger.

“Mr. Whiteley’s appointment will further enhance our global point of difference in terms of how and where we invest and importantly our unique form of worker’s capital.”