Chris Smith has left his post as national manager of multi-advisers with Zurich Financial Services to take on the national business manager position at partly owned Zurich financial planning subsidiary, Australian Financial Services (AFS).
In the newly created position, Smith’s focus is on growing the business and heading up the recruitment of new advisers. He also provides members of the AFS network with development assistance and support.
“AFS has not had much growth in the past couple of years, so we are now taking growth to the next stage,” Smith says.
Smith’s defection to AFS comes as Zurich sells down its stake in the group. It formerly owned 55 per cent of the group but has sold down to 43 per cent in recent months. Zurich is aiming to own about 30 per cent of the group, with the majority of shares being in the hands of the group’s financial planners.
Smith’s main duty is recruiting new advisers, but Smith will also work alongside AFS business development manager Steve Griffin.
Smith has 21 years experience in the financial services industry and spent more than 16 of these with Zurich. Prior to the national manager role he was NSW state manager.
