Search is on for new head for ipac planning businesses

A restructure at ipac has resulted in head of financial planning Sally Manion stepping down after nine years with the financial services company.

This follows the departure of John Saint, former head of ipac business partnering, who was promoted to chief executive of AXA dealer group Genesys late last year.

A new role of general manager ipac financial planning has been created, which will be filled by ipac chief operating officer Eric Gibson until a permanent replacement is appointed. There are a number of “good people” from outside AXA interested in the role, according to ipac chief executive Neill Swindells.

“We have until now managed ipac financial planning and ipac business partnering as two separate businesses based on these differing reward and risk structures and contractual relationships,” Swindells said.

“I believe the time has come in ipac's evolution to view ourselves and drive growth as a single advice network … This change will enable us to align the support we provide to [our equity partners] in various locations, better build our brand over time and support the transition of businesses we acquire,” he said.

Swindells took care to point out that ipac’s community of equity partners would not be lost in the transition to a single network: “My vision is one of an overall single network servicing clients with ipac advice and services across Australia,” he said.

Manion’s departure was on good terms, and she will stay in her role until February, he added.