Meet the Asteron executive team

With roles covering a wide range of senior executive positions, including CEO of MLC Retail Investments – which included $40bn of MLC Superannuation and Investments platforms - Geoff has 19 years experience in banking and wealth management with NAB, MLC and Lend Lease. In his role as Group Executive Suncorp Wealth Management, Geoff is responsible for the profitable management and growth of Suncorp's Wealth Management arm across Australia and New Zealand. Suncorp Wealth Management includes the following brands: Asteron, Tyndall, Guardian Financial Planning, Cameron Walshe, Standard Pacific, Guardian Trust, Stone and AA Life. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Business and GMQ from the AGSM.

In his role, John is responsible for Asteron's product and service offering to financial advisers. This 400 strong team covers Sales, Product and Marketing, Retail Operations, Claims, Risk Assessment and Technical Services. John's focus is on growing Retail sales and delivering excellence in adviser and customer service. John joined Asteron in 2005 from BT Financial Group, where he was a member of the executive team and responsible for leading the integration of the BT, Westpac Financial Services and Rothschilds businesses. John's background includes a broad range of experience with PMP Limited, McKinsey & Company and the Prime Minister's Department. John holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (English Literature) and an MBA from Australian Graduate School of Management.

David oversees Asteron's aligned advice businesses including Guardian Financial Planning, Cameron Walshe and Standard Pacific, and is also responsible for corporate superannuation and group risk. In April 2006, David joined Asteron as Head of Distribution and was appointed COO, Corporate and Distribution in December 2006. David has more than 16 years experience in the financial services industry, and prior to his roles with Asteron, held a number of senior positions with ANZ Banking Group. David holds post-graduate qualifications in Finance and Investments, and Financial Planning, and is a CPA and a Fellow of FINSIA.

Kym is responsible for CFO, Fund and Support Services, covering financial analysis and advice, custody, unit pricing, performance and attribution, Legal, Risk and Compliance, HR and Strategy. Kym joined the Asteron executive in 2002 and has held the roles of Chief Operating Officer Investment Services, Manager Investment Services, Manager of Business Strategy and Manager of Investment Accounting. Kym joined the Group in 1995 and has 20 years' experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a Certified Practising Accountant.

Sean Carroll is Asteron's Managing Director in New Zealand, responsible for all Sales, Marketing, Distribution, Risk Assessment and Operational aspects of the business. Based in Auckland, Sean's focus is on re-establishing Asteron as a market leader in the New Zealand market, building on a philosophy of mutually profitable relationships, integrity, customer focus and seeking diversification of our approach to the business to achieve competitor differentiation.

Sean has a long history with Asteron and its predecessors companies, originally joining Sun Alliance in UK in 1988, before re-locating to Sydney in 1995 as Product Development Actuary. Since that time, Sean has had roles as 'Director, Life & Funds Management, Asia' for Royal SunAlliance, and 'General Manager, Life Risk', with responsibility for Asteron's Life Risk business in Australia from 2000 - 2004.

An actuary by training, Sean has enjoyed the evolution into general management but regards his actuarial training as an excellent base. Sean also holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours (in Mathematics) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (UK), Institute of Actuaries of Australia and the New Zealand Society of Actuaries.

Sean is currently Deputy Chairman of the Insurance Savings and Investment Association in New Zealand.

Brett Himbury
EGM
Asset Management

Brett Himbury is EGM Asset Management. Brett has worked in the finance sector for 25 years. Previous positions have included Senior Management roles with Rothschild and Westpac where he led teams who achieved strong service and financial success. Having held the position of COO of Asteron's Corporate & Distribution, Brett made a smooth transition to his current role as Managing Director of Tyndall. Brett's previous role was Executive General Manager at Commonwealth Bank, accountable for the advice and distribution businesses of the group. In his time leading this business profitability, advice quality and staff engagement grew at unprecedented levels.

In his role as EGM Asset Management, Brett’s aim is to ensure that the team has the will, capacity and support necessary to ensure significant growth. “In a highly competitive and ever-changing market I believe that this growth will come about through both innovation and how well we implement."

Brett has an MBA from the AGSM

Craig Ford
EGM
Wealth Platform

Craig Ford is Executive General Manager Wealth Platform.

Craig was formerly Asteron's Chief Information Officer and Promina Financial Services’ Head of Strategy. He relocated to Australia from England, where he was Governance and Program Management Director with Zurich Financial Services. With Zurich, he also held positions as Director of Corporate Planning, Market Intelligence and as a Divisional Director of Finance.

Craig is a qualified Accountant having worked with PriceWaterhouse Coopers in General Practice and Corporate Finance.

He has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Economics and Accounting.