AustralianSuper bolsters UK operations with senior hires

Australia’s largest superannuation fund has announced a number of senior hires to bolster its operations in the UK and enhance its offshore investment capabilities. 

The fund’s London office, which opened in 2016, will welcome four new appointments across investments, ESG, risk, and corporate affairs. 

AustralianSuper is forecast to grow to over $500 billion over the next five years and has signalled it will deploy almost 70 per cent of its growing inflows into global markets. It currently has some $40 billion invested in the UK and Europe. 

“Since opening our office in the UK seven years ago, we have sought the best talent to enable us to build our investment platform and improve our global presence, with the aim of driving sustainable long-term performance for more than 3.1 million members,” said deputy chief investment officer, Damian Moloney.

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He described the London office as an “important investment engine” for the $300 billion fund.

“We’re building a high-calibre and experienced team in London to ensure the fund is strategically positioned in a market that will create many opportunities to generate excellent long-term returns for members,” Moloney added. 

John Normand has been tapped to lead investment strategy from late August, joining AustralianSuper after 24 years at JP Morgan, where he has covered multiple asset classes (currencies, commodities, fixed income) and approaches (cross-asset/asset allocation, systematic). At AustralianSuper, he will lead the asset allocation research team that drives investment strategy across all major asset classes.

Meanwhile, Deborah Gilshan joined the fund last month as head of ESG and stewardship, Europe. In the role, she will oversee the fund’s programs in these areas in European public and private markets, including interacting with stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies. 

She has more than 22 years’ experience, having previously worked at three large institutional investors Railpen, abrdn (then Aberdeen Standard Investments), and the UK’s Co-operative Insurance Society. She is also the founder of The 100% Club, a multi-sector networking alliance dedicated to gender equality.

William Manfield also joined last month as head of group risk, international at AustralianSuper, leading the strategic direction of the risk and compliance function in the international offices. He joins from BNP Paribas Asset Management, where he was chief risk officer, UK for over five and a half years. His experience also includes senior roles at Janus Henderson and Schroders. 

Amanda Mitchell joined in June and leads corporate affairs in Europe, moving from a similar role at Macquarie’s global asset management business. Her remit includes providing strategic advice and support to

AustralianSuper’s London and New York offices across a range of communications and stakeholder engagement activities, including asset acquisitions and divestments, media relations, issues and reputation management, and government affairs.

The senior hires will join Carl Astorri, head of investments, Europe and Sujay Shah, head of internal government portfolios. 

Astorri has been with the fund in Melbourne since 2015 and stepped into the London-based role in April 2023 while Shah has been managing the fund’s government bonds portfolios and team in London since November 2022.