Ignition Advice has indicated it is moving away from a regional model and will not be appointing a dedicated Australian head to replace Craig Keary.
Keary stepped down from the CEO role after two years in March 2023 but remains at the firm as a senior adviser for Asia Pacific. He had joined in 2021 with a focus to strengthen Ignition’s position in the Australian market.
However, more than three months later, the firm is yet to appoint a leader in Australia and has now stated it will move away from a regional model focused on countries.
This will see leadership instead come from Terry Donohoe in Dublin who is group CEO and oversaw the firm’s expansion in the UK and Ireland.
Launched in Sydney in 2014, the firm expanded to Dublin in 2017 and then into the UK in May 2021 to offer digital advice solutions with the opening of London and Edinburgh offices.
Andrew Baker, global head of strategy and corporate services, said: “We’re not replacing Craig’s role in part because we’re moving to more of a functional than regional model.
“Ignition has two large European clients and we’re now starting to see activity ramp up further again in UK, Europe, and here in Australia with the Quality of Advice Review. We’re seeing high levels of interest and demand for the capabilities we supply.”
Four of the firm’s directors — chair Sally Loane, vice-chair Russell Scrimshaw, co-founder Mike Giles and co-founder Mark Fordree — are based in Sydney while non-executive directors Paul McMahon and Ken Lambden are based in the UK.
Loane is a former chief executive of the Financial Services Council and was appointed to Ignition last month, succeeding Peter Meurer OAM who stepped down after eight years.
Ignition Advice has core teams located in Sydney, Dublin, Edinburgh, and London and plans underway to launch in Asia.
