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Sydney Catholics build out investment team
John Phokos
The Australian Catholic Superannuation & Retirement Fund is building out its investment team following the recruitment of Michael Block in December 2014 to replace the retired Anne Whittaker. John Phokos joins today, June 1, as investment manager, private markets.
Phokos has a 20-year history in financial services, most recently as senior investment analyst at NSW Workcover. Prior to that he worked at JP Morgan and Commonwealth Bank. Greg Cantor, the $6.5 billion fund’s chief executive, said he was delighted that Phokos was joining the fund, given his considerable skills and expertise in unlisted markets.
The fund, which is based in Sydney and is the largest of several Catholic super funds, has one more senior position to fill under its revamped investment team – that of investment manager, public markets.
Prior to Michael Block’s arrival, after an 18-month stint as chief investment officer at Papua New Guinea’s main pension fund, the Nambawan Superannuation Fund, Australian Catholics had recruited as manager of investment operations Paul Coenraads, who had previously held a similar role at AUSCOAL.
