Dennis Bateman

AMP’s Charter Financial Planning has announced the winners of its two national financial planning awards, the Gerald Lippman Perpetual Trophy and the National Value of Advice Award.

Mr Dennis Bateman of TFC Financial was awarded the Gerald Lippman Perpetual Trophy and Troy Mickan of KTA Financial Services was recognised with the National Value of Advice Award.

Charter Financial Planning Managing Director Kevin Stone said the awards shine a light on the community of professional financial planners who improve the lives and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Australians each year, helping them to live their best life.

“Recognising advisers in this way acknowledges the passion and commitment they show in helping their clients navigate through life’s financial journey.”

Gerald Lippman Perpetual Trophy
Winner: Dennis Bateman of TFC Financial

Since 1989, the Gerald Lippman Perpetual Trophy has been awarded to the adviser who has made a significant contribution to the progress and development of Charter’s advice community. The award considers the contribution the adviser has made to the financial planning profession, their involvement within their community, the support they offer their colleagues and the quality of their practice.

Named after Gerald Lippman, a pioneer in the Australian financial services industry, Mr Stone said this is the highest honour Charter can bestow on an adviser and Dennis optimises the spirit of the award.

“Dennis has been a financial planner in the Southern Queensland town of Toowoomba for over 40 years and, in addition to a focus on continual professional development, has shown a long term commitment to representing the industry through membership of various industry bodies.”

Dennis served on the AFA Board for 13 years and is a former State and National President. Dennis has also been recognised by the Rotary Club for his services to his local community.

National Value of Advice Award
Winner: Troy Mickan of KTA Financial Services

The National Value of Advice winner is selected from a panel of state winners and is awarded to the adviser who has made a significant and material change to a client’s financial future. The winner is determined upon consideration of real case studies.

Mr Stone said Troy’s wining submission demonstrated not only outstanding advice for a client, but also great empathy and support which gets to the heart of what our business is all about.

“Troy’s expertise has meant that a client facing a serious ongoing medical condition and her family now have peace of mind around their finances and can see a smooth financial road ahead rather than the bleak one they were anticipating,” Mr Stone said.

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Pauline Blight-Johnston

AMP has announced key leadership appointments for its two newly created business divisions – Insurance and Superannuation, and Advice and Banking effective 20 January 2014.

The appointments come after AMP CEO Craig Meller announced his leadership team in October and are the next step in creating a leaner, more efficient and increasingly customer-driven organisation.

AMP Group Executive Pauline Blight-Johnston of the newly created Insurance and Superannuation division has made three appointments to her leadership team. The division is responsible for the company’s risk insurance, superannuation, investment, pensions and platforms business portfolios.

Megan Beer has been appointed Director, Insurance and will join AMP from NAB in February 2014.

Ms Beer has over 20 years’ experience in the actuarial and insurance industry. Prior to AMP she headed up NAB’s wealth management and insurance proposition through the bank channel, as General Manager Bancassurance and Direct.

Ms Beer will be responsible for driving AMP’s insurance business through a time of change for the industry, and bringing together services from across AMP to provide a sustainable and attractive customer insurance experience.

Patricia Montague has been appointed Director of Superannuation with responsibility for superannuation, retirement and platform investment products. Ms Montague joined AMP in August 2013 as Director Wealth Management Products.

Ms Montague joined AMP from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she was the General Manager of Retail Customers and Transformation.

Melinda Howes has been appointed Director Product Strategy and Services with responsibility for portfolio strategy and shared technical services across the Insurance and Superannuation business.

Ms Howes joined AMP in November 2013 from the Actuaries Institute, where she was CEO for more than three years. She has held senior positions at ASFA, and at BT Financial Group where she was Director of Superannuation and Retirement Products. She is well known in the industry for her expertise in issues around retirement, longevity and superannuation adequacy.

Ms Blight-Johnston said the appointments put AMP in a strong position to deliver a great experience to its customers in the rapidly changing insurance and superannuation environment.

“This is a strong team with the depth and breadth of experience we need to sustainably deliver the right solutions to our customers and to continue to remain contemporary and successful in a quickly changing world,” Ms Blight-Johnston said.

The AMP Advice and Banking division led by Group Executive Rob Caprioli is responsible for AMP’s advice, banking and corporate superannuation business portfolios; effectively bringing together the key channels through which customers come to AMP.

Mr Caprioli has made the following appointments to his team:

Steve Helmich takes on the role of Executive Director Financial Planning. AMP will leverage Mr Helmich’s extensive experience and understanding of the financial advice profession within its multiple advice brands and with external audiences. Mr Helmich will also represent AMP locally and internationally on key boards and forums.

The management of AMP’s advice businesses’ five licensees will be streamlined under three management teams.

Michael Guggenheimer, currently Managing Director of AMP’s biggest licensee, AMP Financial Planning (AMPFP) will have additional responsibility for Hillross. Tim Steele as Managing Director of ipac and Genesys will take on additional responsibility for Genesys, while Kevin Stone will continue as Managing Director of Charter Financial Planning.

Hugh Humphrey has been appointed Director Channel Strategy and Transformation and will be responsible for aligning business strategies with customer expectations across AMP’s channels. Mr Humphrey was previously Managing Director of Hillross.

Libby Roy and Mike Lawrence remain in their respective roles as Director Corporate Superannuation and Managing Director AMP Bank.

Mr Caprioli said the new division’s structure means that AMP has, for the first time, a single leadership team responsible for the primary ways customers join AMP.

“The significant depth of talent and experience in my team means we can deliver a seamless, effortless and personalised experience for our customers, no matter how they choose to begin a relationship with us. We will work closely with the rest of the business to deliver the products and services our customers want,” Mr Caprioli said.

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