Plan B Group Holdings (Plan B) has further signalled its commitment to new growth opportunities with the appointment of Mr Andrew Black as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Black joins the company at a critical juncture for the financial planning profession in Australia. Plan B’s client-focused heritage means the company is on a firm footing to embrace the proposed legislative reforms announced recently within the Government’s Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) package.
The strong ethical base and client-focused values are a competitive advantage for Plan B, and one of the key reasons Mr Black was attracted to the role.
“With the first tranche of FoFA now released, I can see a number of fresh growth opportunities for professional planning firms that offer quality, professional advice. In this respect, Plan B is one of our industry’s best kept secrets, in terms of its high quality service offering, client focus and organisational culture,” said Mr Black.
Plan B Chairman, Bryan Taylor, said: “We are pleased to welcome Andrew, and look forward to his efforts in helping us achieve our long-term strategic goals. The Board is confident that we have selected a CEO who truly understands the Plan B fiduciary heritage and client-centric approach.
“I can proudly say we are ahead of the game in terms of the proposed FoFA legislative standards and consumer protection measures. This means Plan B, under Andrew’s guidance, can focus on the growth opportunities the environment presents. Andrew’s commercial and business acumen will be most valuable in this regard,” he said.
Mr Black added: “Financial planning is a genuine service business. By its very nature it is also a people business, and so part of my role is to retain the high quality people at Plan B, while fostering a new generation of great people to carry our strong value proposition forward.”
Mr Black will officially start with Plan B on 19 September. He brings 30 years’ experience within the financial services industry, most recently as head of Skandia Australia Ltd when it was part of the global Old Mutual Group. He will report to the Board of Directors of Plan B.
