Mr Francis will be based in Perth and will report to Lifeplan’s head of distribution, Mr Derek Emery.

The move follows the recent appointment of Mr Ron Grima as Lifeplan business development manager for Queensland and Northern Territory.

With five years experience in the financial services industry, Mr Francis joins Lifeplan from the Commonwealth Bank in Perth, where he was a business financial planner.

Mr Emery said the appointment of Mr Francis is timely, as the business expands into Western Australia.

“Ryan’s past experience as a financial planner with strong technical skills and client relationship management more than prepare him to work with the Perth team as we look to grow our footprint in Western Australia,” Mr Emery says.

“His appointment will increase the span of our business development and service capabilities as Lifeplan prepares itself for its next stage of growth.”

Mr Francis holds a bachelor of accounting and finance from Edith Cowan University.

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In this role he will be responsible for maintaining and developing relationships with advisers and licensees in the Queensland and Northern Territory financial services markets.

Mr Grima has over 25 years’ financial services experience and joins Lifeplan from Equity Trustees, where he was a key account manager.

Prior to joining Equity Trustees, he was national account manager with AXA. He has also worked with Invesco Australia as state manager, and Perpetual as senior account executive, as well as holding business development roles at Lend Lease Financial Planning and Royal & Sun Alliance.

Mr Emery said that Mr Grima’s appointment was a welcome addition to the Lifeplan BDM team.

“With 27 years experience in business development and account management and over 20 years experience in leadership and people management, Ron’s experience and skillset will be of value to the team as they continue to maximise Lifeplan’s presence in the Queensland market.

“Ron’s reputation among his colleagues and past clients is that of an exceptional senior manager, dedicated to client service and the delivery of corporate objectives.”

Mr Grima holds a bachelor of business from the Queensland University of Technology.

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Mr Bird has 27 years experience in banking and financial planning, and was most recently business development manager, Victoria / Tasmania, with Lifeplan Funds Management. Prior to this he was advice quality manger with Colonial First State and was also a senior financial planner with Commonwealth Financial Planning for 11 years.  Mr Bird holds a diploma of Financial Planning.

Mr Derek Emery, head of specialised product sales, Lifeplan Funds Management, says the growth within the team is a reflection of the re-emergence of interest from financial planning groups and advisers in the use of investment bonds as they strive for quality of advice outcomes for their clients

“For many advisers, this has been a forgotten tax structure until recently, and for others it is a brand new opportunity opening up alternative solutions for clients.

“Greg’s appointment increases the experience and depth of the leadership team within Lifeplan Funds Management and provides additional technical and sales support to the BDM team.

“Greg’s years of experience as a financial planner, in conjunction with his BDM approach, have resulted in first class feedback from planners, financial planning group leaders, and peers.

“Greg has been a proven performer within the sales team over the past few years and achieved industry recognition in 2014 as the National BDM of the Year,” Mr Emery says.

Mr Bird will continue to work with key relationships within the Victorian market that have been established over recent years, as recruitment for a Victorian BDM takes place.

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