Active Super and Vision Super are now entering the home stretch of a drawn-out merger process that will create a new $29 billion fund with 170,000 member accounts.
The NZ Superannuation Fund has made half-a-dozen fresh investments over the previous few months across an eclectic range of strategies including US timber, a quant trend-follower and a life science specialist.
Goodlad goes in SSgA’s global restructure
Australia’s chief executive, Rob Goodlad, and Boston-based chief investment officer for global equities, Ali Lowe, are the most senior casualties in the firm’s restructure designed to provide greater depth in its alternatives and fixed income offerings around the world. Goodlad has already left, after 14 years with SSgA, and Lowe will leave at the end of the year.
The firm is combining its cash and fixed income units under Steve Meier, who will head up those units as well as currency. It is also combining active quantitative and enhanced equity strategy teams. Ted Gekas, currently head of global enhanced equity, takes on a new role as CIO and global head of active quantitative equity
In the APAC region, Kevin Anderson, currently CIO and head of fixed income, moves to Hong Kong to become head of investments for the region. He takes the role of Lochiel Crafter, who has become the business head for the region and will also assume Goodlad’s role running Australia.
The former head of the region, Bernard Reilly, will be spending a lot more time in Boston under the role of global head of strategy. Both Crafter and Reilly will continue to reside in Sydney.
In a note to friends and colleagues, Goodlad said: “SSgA has grown from a relatively unknown global entrant in the Australian market to a large, well regarded and successful provider of investment solutions. I feel a great sense of pride in our accomplishments and the contributions I have made.  I leave the company in good spirits and safe hands…”
He wants to take some time out with his teenage children before deciding on his future.
SSgA executive vice president and group CIO, Rick Lacaille, said the boundaries between fixed income disciplines were blurring and a broad view was beneficial. Cash management, for instance, was moving away from a traditional money market framework. Also, active quant and enhanced equity strategies would operate best as a single discipline, he said.
SSgA will also integrate its well-regarded Advanced Research Center and dedicated IT support into the respective investment teams, bringing research closer to the investment process.
