Skandia steps up BDM recruitment

Australian Skandia has hired what it calls the biggest business development team ever assembled by a new player in the retail market.

Head of business development Charles Magro has assembled a team of four business development managers (BDMs) to service the eastern seaboard, while other BDMs will be added to the team over the next 12 months to service the South Australian and Western Australian markets.

Magro says Australian Skandia is committed to developing strong relationships with advisers on the ground. The group is mostly targeting the smaller independent groups to use its administration and investment platform.

"Where our business development approach differs from other managers is the number of tools on offer for advisers," he says.

Judy Clark takes on business development for Victoria, after more than five years with AM Corporation as Victorian and Tasmanian state manager.

Chris Faddy will look after New South Wales business development, after having spent the past few years as Permanent national business development manager.

Former Macquarie BDM Stephen Taylor joins former Queensland state manager for IOOF Brett Dalton to form the business development team for Queensland.