Jim Wang

Zenith Investment Partners (Zenith) has made two new appointments to its business development team – Jim Wang and Doug Hope. They will be based in Sydney and will report to Zenith’s head of sales, Glenn Boyes.

Mr Wang joins Zenith as business development manager, institutional. In this role he will be responsible for all technology and data sales to institutional clients nationally, focusing on the asset manager, platform and technology client segments.

Mr Wang joins Zenith from Preqin where he focused on alternative assets data and analytics sales. Prior to this role, he was with GlobalData Plc as its business development manager professional services. He has also held senior roles with Nielsen working in the retail and FMCG space, and before that with Euromonitor International in strategic consumer research.

Mr Boyes said: “Jim’s expertise in data analytics and client relations will be instrumental in further developing Zenith’s institutional relationships.

“His experience with Preqin, in particular, brings valuable experience selling data and technology solutions into the funds management and institutional markets.”

Mr Hope has been appointed in the newly created role of business development manager focusing on adviser solutions nationally, supporting the growth of the Group’s advice tools including Zenith Mosaic, Chant West’s Switching Tools and FE Analytics.

He joins Zenith from Morningstar where he was director, advice software solutions. In this role, he was responsible for refining and executing business strategies for the adviser and licensee segments in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, he held business development roles with HUB24 and Innova Asset Management, also spending seven years with Macquarie Group in various account manager and business development manager roles.

“Doug brings a wealth of experience to the role particularly in the adviser research and analytics space, with direct experience across managed accounts, investment sales, sales management, cloud-based accounting software and fintech. He is a welcome addition to the team.

“These strategic appointments underscore Zenith’s commitment to strengthening our institutional and adviser relationships across Australia. Both Jim and Doug bring valuable expertise to their respective areas, and we are confident they will contribute significantly to our continued growth in 2025 and beyond.”

Mr Wang and Mr Hope started their new roles on 2 December 2024.

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Mr Connolly joins Zenith most recently from Fitzpatrick Private Wealth Partners where he worked for over eight years as a senior financial planner and director. Prior to this, he was a principal adviser at Centric Wealth, a position he held for nearly 10 years. He has also held business development and state management roles at Goldman Sachs JBWere and AMP.

Mr Boyes says that Mr Connolly will focus on business development opportunities for Zenith’s market leading research and extensive managed account capabilities.

“Peter has decades of experience both as an adviser and in various business development roles. His depth of experience in financial services, particularly as a financial adviser, will be really valuable to help ensure we’re delivering our services and solutions in a way that meets the needs of our growing adviser base.

“He also has first-hand understanding of the benefits of managed accounts for advisers and their clients including the importance of quality investment research in driving strong outcomes.”

Mr Connolly has a Diploma of Financial Planning from RMIT University, a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance from Griffith University and a Master of Commerce (Financial Planning) from Western Sydney University.

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Glenn Boyes

Zenith Investment Partners has continued to grow its managed account footprint with the addition of its Dynamic ETF portfolios to HUB24’s new Discover offer, and its Essentials portfolios to Macquarie Wrap.

Available via HUB24 Discover, Zenith’s Dynamic ETF portfolios incorporate a broad range of ETF exposures using a proprietary dynamic asset allocation overlay to maximise market opportunities.

The portfolios offer advisers and their clients an efficient way to access a range of investments such as equities, cash, bonds and commodities through the one investment vehicle. 

Zenith head of sales, Glenn Boyes, says the addition of the Essentials portfolios to Macquarie Wrap is another step in Zenith’s expanding platform presence.

Designed for the more cost-conscious investor, the Essentials portfolios leverage Zenith’s strong internal capabilities in asset allocation, strategy selection and manager selection, investing in a combination of actively managed funds in addition to some lower-cost options.

“We’re really pleased with the continuing growth in popularity and availability of Zenith’s managed accounts, which is testament to the quality of our internal capabilities in portfolio construction, asset allocation, and fund manager research and selection,” he says.

“Working with high-quality platform providers like HUB24 and Macquarie Wrap ensures our public menu managed account offering is widely available to financial advisers and includes a variety of portfolios able to meet the diverse needs of investors.

“As one of the first multi-asset managed account providers in Australia, we’ve witnessed the continuing growth in popularity of managed accounts, as advisers have embraced the efficiency benefits of the structure for both their own business and their clients.”

Zenith manages nearly $5 billion in client assets across both public menu and customised managed account portfolios, which has been driven by inflows from both its public menu managed accounts and growing cohort of customised portfolio clients.

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Ms Agustin joins Zenith from Zurich and OnePath Insurance, where she was a BDM from 2019 to 2023. Before that, she was a commercial financial planner with ANZ Financial Planning for more than five years, a senior adviser with Perpetual and a financial adviser with JBWere.

Mr Boyes said Ms Agustin brings strong technical skills and a proven track record of client relationship management to the position.

“Kyla’s appointment fills an important role in the business as Zenith seeks to focus on its core service offering in Victoria and Tasmania, including its growing range of managed account solutions.

“She is an accomplished financial planning and advice professional with over 18 years of experience. Kyla has demonstrated skills in identifying new business opportunities, developing new business strategies, and supporting clients to achieve their business’ objectives

“Her experience as a BDM and a financial planner will assist her to foster long-term relationships with clients, and further extend the reach of Zenith’s core service offering.”

Ms Agustin commenced with Zenith in June. She is FASEA certified and holds a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning from Kaplan Professional. She also holds a bachelor of commerce and bachelor of arts from Deakin University.

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Prior to joining Zenith, Mr Dening spent six years in various business development roles within BT Financial Group and AMP’s platform businesses. He also has five years’ experience in the financial planning industry leading the development and execution of advice strategies across several licensees.

Mr Boyes said Mr Dening’s financial services experience will be invaluable in supporting the continuing growth in demand for Zenith’s services.

“Peter will be responsible for building and servicing the investment research and portfolio consulting requirements of Zenith’s financial adviser client base in New South Wales and the ACT,” Mr Boyes said.

“His professional skills and experience will be key in supporting the growing footprint of our product offering, which now includes FE fundinfo’s products under the Zenith brand.”

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Mr Boyes initially joined the firm in August 2022 as head of sales for FE’s technology and fund manager service offerings. Prior to this, he spent 15 years at IRESS in a range of roles including head of advice – Australia, general manager – wealth and advice solutions, and in business development. He also has experience working as a Certified Financial Planner.

Zenith has also appointed Ben Bell to the role of business development manager – NSW and WA. He will be based in the Sydney office and will report to Mr Boyes.

Mr Bell has over 10 years’ experience in the advice industry and 20 years in the financial services industry. He joins Zenith from Bellmont Securities where he was sales manager, adviser solutions. Prior to this he spent 11 years at Aberdeen Standard Investments, most recently as associate director – wholesale sales, as well as in business development and regional sales roles. He has also worked at Credit Suisse and Towers Perrin in client service roles.

Zenith COO, Jason Huddy, says the promotion of Mr Boyes and appointment of Mr Bell come at an important time in the development of the business as it continues to expand its product and service offering to clients nationally in 2023.

“Glenn has significant experience in serving wealth management clients and leading product delivery teams across the market and we’re confident that our growing client base will further benefit from this,” Mr Huddy says.

“With over 25 years’ experience in the financial services and fintech sectors, Glenn is a leader in the delivery of technology, research and advice solutions. His experience covers a wide range of industry segments including advice, data, research, wealth management, superannuation, portfolio management and compliance.

“Additionally, his previous experience as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) means he has a solid understanding of the challenges being faced in the market.”

Mr Huddy said Mr Bell also brings extensive industry experience to the role.

“Ben will work across all brands in the business to support our client relationships, and his experience working with financial advice groups nationally to help them create cost-effective and transparent managed account portfolio solutions will stand him in good stead in this role.

“His previous business development experience in NSW and WA means he has a solid network of contacts and a strong industry knowledge. This will be of huge benefit as Zenith continues to expand its product offering into the NSW and WA markets.”

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