Fidelity International strengthens Australia distribution team with two appointments

Sam Besley

Fidelity International has appointed Gavin Butt as regional sales manager and Sam Besley as sales manager, further strengthening its wholesale distribution capability and reaffirming its long‑term commitment to the Australian market.

The appointments reflect Fidelity’s continued investment in deepening client relationships across the intermediary market and enhancing local sales expertise to deliver more tailored support aligned to evolving client needs.

Mr Butt will be based in Sydney and will focus on developing and deepening relationships across the private wealth, private banking and family office segments, supporting advisers with Fidelity’s range of managed funds, ETFs and managed accounts. He will report to Lauren Jackson, head of wholesale sales.

Mr Butt joins Fidelity International with more than 20 years’ experience across wholesale distribution, investment consulting and asset management. Most recently, he held senior roles at Natixis Investment Managers, including research & consulting and state manager, NSW & ACT, working closely with wholesale teams and research houses to support growth and retention across a multi‑affiliate platform. He has previously held senior roles at NAB Asset Management, AMP Capital, and Amundi.

Mr Besley will be based in Melbourne and joins Fidelity as sales manager, where he will be responsible for leading and deepening relationships with Fidelity’s key strategic clients at a head‑office level, including consultants and private wealth groups, and driving commercial relationships with key strategic clients. He will report to Lukasz de Pourbaix, head of strategic sales and solutions.

Mr Besley brings more than 15 years’ experience across wholesale distribution and strategic account management. He joins Fidelity from Ironbark Asset Management, where he was a key account manager covering consultant, private wealth and adviser channels. Prior to this, he held senior wholesale distribution roles at Robeco and Goldman Sachs Asset Management and previously worked at Fidelity International as a business development manager.

Simon Glazier, Fidelity’s managing director, Australia, says the appointments highlight Fidelity’s continued investment in the Australian market and its focus on building long‑term adviser partnerships.

“These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to the Australian market and to investing in experienced, high‑quality local talent to support advisers and strategic partners. Gavin and Sam each bring deep market knowledge and complementary skill sets that will further strengthen our wholesale sales capability and help us deliver long‑term value for clients.”