Matt Wacher

JANA Investment Advisers (JANA) has appointed Matt Wacher as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), strengthening investment leadership and alignment across its investment capabilities.

The appointment reflects JANA’s continued evolution as client demand, portfolio complexity and regulatory expectations continue to grow across segments and mandates.

Reporting to JANA’s Chief Executive Officer, Georgina Dudley, and joining the Executive Leadership Team, Mr Wacher will lead JANA’s overarching investment strategy and oversee investment outcomes across all client segments and mandates.

In this role, Mr Wacher will provide leadership across JANA’s investment research, investment strategy and sustainability functions.

Ms Dudley said the CIO appointment reflects the increasing breadth and complexity of client needs.

“JANA has a team with real depth across research, strategy and sustainability, and I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve built,” Ms Dudley said.

“As demand continues to broaden across our clients, the work is becoming more multi-dimensional as we support a wider range of client objectives and portfolio needs.”

“A Chief Investment Officer role strengthens investment leadership across our business and ensures we continue to deliver disciplined, long-term outcomes for our clients.”

Mr Wacher said, “I’m excited to join JANA at a time when clients are placing an even greater emphasis on disciplined decision-making and consistent oversight.”

“JANA has built strong investment capability grounded in rigorous research and thoughtful portfolio construction,” Mr Wacher said.

“My focus will be to provide leadership across the investment function, build on the depth already in place, and ensure we continue delivering disciplined, long-term outcomes for clients.”

Mr Wacher joins JANA from Morningstar Investment Management, where he was Chief Investment Officer, Asia Pacific, leading multi-asset investment strategy and portfolio management across the region. He also served as Chair of Morningstar’s Global Investment Committee, overseeing investment methodologies and governance across its global investment operations. In these roles, he oversaw approximately US$15 billion across diversified multi-asset strategies.

Earlier in his career, Mr Wacher held senior investment roles at Qantas Superannuation, Russell Investments and CMC Markets, spanning multi-asset portfolio construction, institutional investment solutions, and investment markets across Australia and Japan.

Matt Wacher will commence his role at JANA on Tue 19 May.

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Investment in leadership and growth

These promotions follow the recent appointments of JANA’s new Heads of Sustainability, Infrastructure and Alternatives, and reflect the firm’s annual process to support the ongoing growth and development of its people – ensuring JANA continues to deliver positive outcomes for our clients and their beneficiaries.

The new appointments highlight the deep breadth of talent across JANA, which forms the foundation for delivering trusted, high-quality advice in an increasingly complex investment landscape. With more than 100 investment professionals and over A$1.7 trillion in funds under advice, JANA continues to strengthen its capability across investment consulting, research and implementation.

“These appointments recognise people who consistently deliver high-quality outcomes for our clients and embody the depth of thinking and collaboration that define JANA,” said Georgina Dudley, Chief Executive Officer.

“Our culture is built on shared purpose and client focus, and these promotions celebrate the people who bring that to life every day. They also reflect JANA’s commitment to investing back into our people. JANA has been fortunate, through strong staff retention, to have the ability to promote exceptional talent from within, creating opportunities for growth and reinforcing the strength that sets us apart.”

The promotions span a broad cross-section of JANA’s advisory, research, and investment teams – reflecting the collective effort and expertise that drive strong client outcomes and sustained growth across the firm.

Promotions to Principal Consultant

• Bill Dwyer – Client Investment Consulting
• Ed Giudice – Client Investment Consulting
• Matthew Moon – Private Equity
• Robert Moore – Fixed Income
• Prashanthi Nadarajah – Client Investment Consulting
• Christopher Worthington – Quant & Risk

Additional Senior Promotions

• Kevin Fernando, Senior Consultant
• Sadru Karim, Senior Manager

These promotions acknowledge the depth of expertise and leadership across JANA’s consulting, research and operational teams, reinforcing the firm’s ability to deliver superior investment outcomes for clients.

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Nigel Browne

Aboriginal Investment NT, the first Aboriginal-led investor of its kind in Australia, has appointed JANA Investment Advisers (JANA) to provide specialist investment advice to support the development of its AUD$655 million Commercial Investment Portfolio (CIP). This appointment coincides with the first investments into the Aboriginal Investment NT CIP, which will positively impact Aboriginal Territorians.

Established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, Aboriginal Investment NT’s statutory purpose is to promote the self-management, economic self-sufficiency, and social and cultural wellbeing of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory through innovative approaches to capital deployment and investments.

JANA’s appointment will support Aboriginal Investment NT in stewarding its capital through a tailored investment strategy designed to meet the organisation’s goals today, while building collective Aboriginal wealth and economic strength for generations to come.

Nigel Browne, CEO of Aboriginal Investment NT, said: “The appointment of JANA marks a major step in Aboriginal Investment NT’s strategic objectives to grow Aboriginal money for future generations, strengthen Aboriginal economic, social and cultural systems, and elevate Aboriginal interests across the Northern Territory.

Our partnership with JANA will help us deliver a diversified, risk-controlled investment strategy that aligns with our values, supports our legislative purpose, and demonstrates the power of Aboriginal-led capital deployment.”

Aboriginal Investment NT is led by an Aboriginal-majority Board who come from all corners of the NT, with deep community ties, cultural knowledge and connection to Country. With broad-ranging powers, including to borrow, lend, and enter into joint ventures, Aboriginal Investment NT is positioned to lead a new model of wealth creation rooted in selfdetermination. As a Corporate Commonwealth Entity, Aboriginal Investment NT operates independently of government and is not subject to ministerial direction.

Georgina Dudley, CEO of JANA, said: “We are honoured to partner with Aboriginal Investment NT on this important initiative. The organisation’s vision of intergenerational prosperity, built on Aboriginal values and governance, is both powerful and deeply aligned with JANA’s commitment to supporting purpose-led investors.

Together, we aim to shape a strategy that delivers long-term, sustainable outcomes for communities across the Northern Territory.”

The appointment reflects JANA’s deep experience advising not-for-profit and values-driven investors across Australia and New Zealand, with more than A$1.5 trillion in assets under advice.

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Promotions and role transitions

Matthew Gadsden: Head of Research Execution

Matthew Gadsden has been appointed to the newly created role of Head of Research Execution. This role focuses on driving efficiency and enhancing cross-functional collaboration across investment-facing areas of the business. Leveraging JANA’s deep research expertise, Matthew will optimise investment advice and performance outcomes for clients.

Justin Tay: Head of Global Equities Research

Justin Tay has stepped into the role of Head of Global Equities Research, succeeding Matthew Gadsden. With over seven years of experience within JANA’s Global Equities Research team, Justin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this critical area.

Robert Moore: Head of Debt / Sub-Investment Grade Debt Lead

Robert Moore will continue leading JANA’s Debt Research team (formerly Fixed Interest Research team), overseeing the strategic direction and client advice within the sector. He will also assume the position of Research Lead for Sub-Investment Grade Debt Lead. Robert’s dedicated focus will support the rapidly growing client interest in this area. 

Martin Rea: Investment Grade Debt Lead

Martin Rea has been promoted to the role of Investment Grade Debt Lead. In this capacity, he will oversee JANA’s Cash and Diversified Fixed Interest advice and solutions, further demonstrating JANA’s dedication to providing targeted, high-quality investment solutions.

 New additions to the team

In late 2024, JANA appointed Victoria Hugh as Senior Product Manager, strengthening JANA’s leadership in Investment Trusts. Victoria will leverage her extensive experience in financial services to drive product development to meet evolving client needs.

JANA is also excited to welcome the following new team members:

• Stephanie O’Brien joins as a Senior Consultant in the Property Research team
• James Leos joins as a Senior Consultant in the Private Equity Research team
• Tina Nguyen joins as a Consultant in the Infrastructure Research team

Georgina Dudley, CEO of JANA, commented on the appointments: “These appointments highlight JANA’s commitment to building an agile and independent consulting model that prioritises the needs of our clients. By investing in our people and expanding our leadership capabilities, we’re ensuring that JANA remains at the forefront of delivering innovative, high-quality research and advice across all asset classes. This is an exciting time for JANA as we continue to grow our presence in the market and reinforce our position as trusted advisers to some of Australia’s largest institutional investors.”

JANA has consistently evolved its consulting offering to meet the growing needs of its clients. This includes expanding its proposition to serve a broader range of clients across Australia and New Zealand, including superannuation, not-for-profit, insurance, and wealth segments, while maintaining a focus on delivering tailored, strategic solutions to address the unique challenges faced by institutional investors.

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Enda Mahoney

JANA Investment Advisors (‘JANA’) is pleased to announce the appointment of Enda Mahoney as General Manager of Technology and Data, effective 18 November 2024. Enda will report directly to JANA’s CEO, Georgina Dudley, and will be a key member of JANA’s Executive Leadership Team.

JANA’s Digital Transformation program continues to advance the firm’s data and technological capabilities. Enda will lead JANA’s IT and Data Management strategy, focusing on integrating advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to align with JANA’s strategic objectives and unlock new opportunities and enhance service delivery for clients.

Georgina Dudley, CEO of JANA, commented on the appointment: “Enda’s proven track record in delivering high-impact platforms and driving technology transformations is exactly what JANA needs at this stage of our growth. His experience in building scalable, secure technology environments will allow us to deliver greater value to clients and reinforce our commitment to innovation in the asset consulting space.

Enda Mahoney also expressed his excitement about joining JANA, stating: “JANA’s vision to evolve its digital and data capabilities resonates strongly with me, and I am excited to contribute to a future-ready, secure, and scalable technology platform that supports our clients’ needs and the firm’s growth objectives.”

Enda brings over 25 years of financial services experience to JANA. Prior to joining JANA, he was the Chief Platform & Technology Officer at Ignition Advice, where he led the design and development of a low-code digital advice platform for global clients. He has also held senior technology leadership roles at Mason Stevens, Macquarie Group, Blackrock, and BT Investment Group.

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Georgina Dudley

Australia’s largest investment consultant, JANA, will become fully management owned following the buyout of Insignia Financial Group’s (Insignia Financial) minority shareholding.

JANA CEO Georgina Dudley welcomed the “exciting new chapter for JANA as a wholly management owned business,” signalling continued growth for Australia’s largest and most influential investment consultant, which manages more than $1.3 trillion in funds under advice.

JANA acquired a majority share of the business from MLC Wealth in 2017, which retained a 45 per cent share. MLC Wealth was subsequently bought by Insignia Financial.

The change resulted in significant growth. In 2017, JANA had 85 staff and $350 billion in investments under advice, which has risen today to more than 140 staff and more than $1.3 trillion in investments under advice.

“Over the past five years, we have seen the benefits of management ownership and how it has further aligned our focus with clients, whilst allowing us to deliver exceptional investment results and significantly grow our funds under advice,” said Ms Dudley

“Full management ownership enables us to continue to build on that success and seize even more opportunities for our clients,” she said. “This is a significant next step in JANA’s evolution, enhancing both autonomy and alignment, and linking staff directly to the success of the business and our clients.

“Moving to full equity ownership will continue to improve JANA’s ability to attract, retain and develop its people,” Ms Dudley said. Since the initial management buyout, JANA has achieved an exceptionally low turnover of staff, well below industry averages.

“JANA is committed to investing in further growth and expanding its offerings, as well as adopting new technology and sophisticated data analysis to meet the growing needs of the business and its clients, including those in the Not-for-Profit, Insurance and Wealth partnerships sectors.”

Fiona Dunn, Chairperson of the JANA Board, said, “We are very excited to have Georgina lead JANA into its next phase as we continue to drive the best possible outcomes for our clients.”

Ms Dunn thanked Insignia Financial for its support. “The partnership between JANA, MLC and Insignia Financial over the past 20 years has seen significant success and growth,” she said. We thank them for all their contribution and commitment.”

Insignia Financial’s Chief Asset Management Officer, Garry Mulcahy, a JANA Board member, said the partnership “had been productive for both Insignia Financial and JANA” and that “this resetting of the commercial relationship is on strategy and aligned to Insignia Financial’s ongoing focus on simplification”.

JANA will continue to provide investment consulting services to Insignia Financial.

Mr Mulcahy and Insignia Financial’s other representative will step down from JANA’s Board and further non-executive Directors will be announced through a structured succession in 2023.

The buyout will not impact JANA’s existing client services or agreements. The transaction is due to be completed by 31 January 2023.

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Lauren O’Neill

JANA has announced the appointment of Lauren O’Neill as the new General Manager, Strategy & Innovation, replacing Georgina Dudley who takes on the Chief Executive Officer position on 1 December 2022.

Ms O’Neill is currently the Head of Client Development, leading the team and cultivating client relationships at JANA. In this role, Ms O’Neill has facilitated a number of key strategic partnerships and change management projects which has driven the firm through a significant period of growth. Lauren has over 20 years’ experience in strategic growth and change roles, as well as managing client account, marketing and distribution teams in Europe and Australia. Ms O’Neill was also previously a Director at UK partnership firm LCP.

As General Manager, Strategy & Innovation, Ms O’Neill will explore and lead strategic initiatives that support JANA’s growth as well as delivering impactful change from vision through to delivery and execution.

Georgina Dudley, incoming JANA CEO, said, “Lauren is an integral part of the JANA team, her drive to deliver the best results whilst also pushing the boundaries when it comes to strategic and innovative thinking will ensure the delivery of enhanced outcomes for clients.”

Ms O’Neill’s current role will be filled on a permanent basis by Sai Srinivasan, who has been acting Head of Client Development Manager for the past 11 months. Mr Srinivasan is highly experienced in managing client relationships at a senior executive level, specifically superannuation & liability driven investors. He has 14 years of industry experience and has held senior distribution roles at some of the largest superannuation funds in Australia.

Ms Dudley adds “As we continue to grow our practice, driving the best possible outcomes for our clients is front and centre. Both Lauren O’Neill and Sai Srinivasan have a wealth of experience initiating, developing and managing client relationships, and have been instrumental in developing growth strategies and culture to best support business growth”.

Speaking on her appointment, Ms O’Neill said, “I am delighted to be appointed to General Manager, Strategy & Innovation at JANA, a firm with exceptionally strong foundations and exciting opportunities for growth and change – with the overarching focus of improving client outcomes”.

Ms O’Neill will report to the CEO Georgina Dudley and Mr Srinivasan will continue to report to Lauren O’Neill in her new capacity, both roles will take effect 1 December 2022.

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