Viki Whitehead
Self-licensing specialist My Dealer Services (MDS) has appointed experienced senior risk and compliance leader Viki Whitehead as Advice & AFSL Compliance Manager as it restructures roles within its business to maximise growth opportunities.
Viki brings more than 25 years of experience across financial services in Australia and the United Kingdom, specialising in financial advice risk, regulatory compliance and governance within AFSL environments.
At MDS her role will be to further the commitment that compliance at both AFSL and Adviser level can be a driver of growth and better outcomes to clients when embedded correctly. This approach brings huge differentiation and confidence for the company’s 135 AFSLs and 450 advisers who manage more than $20bn in funds under advice.
She joins the firm from Entireti, one of Australia’s largest financial advice licensees where she was Head of Advice Risk and led a team of six risk professionals. Prior to this she was Monitoring and Supervision Manager at Clearview Financial Advice/Matrix Planning Solutions and held related roles at Aon Corporation Limited and MLC.
MDS Director and Founder Alexander Euvrard welcomed Viki, adding she was joining MDS at a time of steady growth when new initiatives were being explored.
“While we are developing exciting new areas of growth within the business, we will not lose sight of our core function – compliance. Viki’s appointment is a clear statement of that commitment and her depth of experience will strengthen the support our AFSLs and advisers rely on every day.”
“MDS has maintained leadership in the self-licensing space over the past year by facilitating 30 percent of new AFSLs in the country and hosting the first Self Licensing Summit open to all financial advisers.”
“Across the industry more than 30 percent of Australian financial advisers now operate within a self-licensing model and interest in the model is growing because of its obvious benefits of greater control and freedom. Viki will play a key role in MDS continuing to prosper in this environment,” Mr Euvrard said.
Head of Strategy, Ashley Mahadeea said MDS’s partnership programme had a step change in FY2025-2026 and delivered even more value to members who now enjoy support from 20 service and product provider partnerships. In the coming months, MDS will launch further strategic solutions, providing adviser members with even more choice and efficiency gains.
“MDS will continue to invest significant effort in researching and vetting best-of-breed solutions across the marketplace and stepping up advocacy for the self-licensing model in the face of concerted opposition,” Mr Mahadeea said.
Ms Whitehead added: “I am delighted to be joining such a well-established industry segment leader at a time of great growth potential and to be taking on a role that will have such a positive impact on our AFSL and adviser clients.”
