Westpac seeks new dealer group head

By Craig Phillips

Westpacfinancial planning head Scott Walters has departed the group after less than a year in the role, with his responsibilities passing in the interim toBT Financial Grouphead of distribution and marketing, Rob Coombe.

Walters, who was responsible for launching and driving the group’s ongoing strategic review — Project Sunrise — leaves the group despite the full implementation of the project yet to be concluded.

“Project Sunrise remains a key priority for us and I am fully committed to, and focused on, its successful implementation over the coming months,” Coombe says in an internal memo circulated to Westpac advisers.

However, according to a group spokesperson, the departure is mutually exclusive to a recent restructure of the firm’s distribution and marketing operations, which has resulted in Coombe assuming an expanded portfolio to include distribution and marketing of the financial planning and advice network.

The group is actively seeking a replacement for Walters, who replaced the now executive general manager, financial planning and advice services at Commonwealth Bank, Brett Himbury, back in May 2003.

“I anticipate a new head of financial planning will be appointed shortly. In the interim, the FP&A dealer group will report directly to me,” Coombe says.