Australia’s superannuation funds have nearly the highest proportion of internal asset management in the world, but there’s plenty of questions hanging over the practice even as funds push into more expensive niche asset classes.
The retirement chief of the $335 billion AustralianSuper, who was “instrumental” in delivering a slew of member experience uplifts across a 17-year stint with the fund, will leave this month to establish a new venture.
Philip Hope joins KONU
“In our first three years we have established a strong reputation for delivery and industry expertise which we want to build on further,” Toepfer said. “Philip is extremely well known and respected within the industry and has a great track record for successfully growing businesses. Greig and I are super excited to be working with Philip and his joining KONU will help accelerate our growth and enhance our capabilities.”
“We are all strongly aligned on where we can take the business and create opportunities for our people. We’re already experiencing Philip’s entrepreneurial flare and he will be invaluable in assisting our clients navigate through the challenges that investment management firms and the superannuation industry faces,” Nicholson said.
Hope was the co-founder of Morse Consulting, which was sold to Deloitte Australia in 2016, having gained a “market leading reputation” for operating model design, operational due diligence and service provider selection. He was a Partner at Deloitte for 4 years and then joined Ashurst Risk Advisory on its formation in 2020.
“KONU’s credibility it is establishing in the market as a team of very experienced industry practitioners is a compelling proposition and is resonating with clients,” Hope said. “This is very much a people business, so I’m excited to join KONU, Paul and Greig, and the opportunity to work again with a very high calibre team of industry practitioners.”
