Sylvia Falzon will formulate and oversee the strategic direction of all business development and product development activities for Portfolio Partners.
Sylvia Falzon joins Portfolio Partners as it evolves to become part of the ambitious global Aviva Investors model.
Sylvia Falzon will formulate and oversee the strategic direction of all business development and product development activities for Portfolio Partners.
In September 2008, along with ten other specialist asset management businesses owned by Aviva, Portfolio Partners will become part of one entity to be called Aviva Investors.
As leader of the business development team, Sylvia's role will involve expanding both the institutional and retail arms of the local business. Her brief includes overseeing and developing distribution and product innovation opportunities within the global Aviva Investors model.
It's an exciting time for the company. Portfolio Partners' CEO Craig Bingham explains: "Attracting the very best talent is fundamental to our approach. Sylvia's track record, industry insight and breadth of experience is outstanding. Her appointment gives expression to our strategy of leveraging the company's proven agility to explore niche, high value investor opportunities - which through Aviva Investors will be on an unprecedented scale."
Sylvia began her career in the financial services industry at National Mutual/AXA in 1983.
She joined Melbourne-based Alpha Investment Management in 1998 and was responsible for client services, business development and operations. Sylvia was instrumental in building this start-up company's funds under management to $AUD 3.3 billion. She was also company secretary.
Sylvia has also been active in numerous professional bodies.
These include membership of the Victorian State Government Finance & Consultative Committee, chair of the Funds Management and Superannuation Sub Committee, deputy director of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme and membership of the Melbourne Financial Services Task Force.
She has lectured with Finsia in "Managing and Marketing Financial Services" and "Applied Portfolio Management". In July 2001 Sylvia was awarded a Senior Fellowship from Finsia. In 2002 she won the National Awards for Outstanding Women in Non-Traditional Areas of Work & Study - National Australia Bank Award: Women in Banking & Financial Services.
An active advocate for women in business, Sylvia was appointed to the Victorian Women in Super Management Committee in 2000. She wrote her Masters (Industrial Relations) thesis on "Retirement Incomes: Will women have enough?"
She has chaired the Breast Cancer Committee of the Peter MacCullum Cancer Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Masters of Industrial Relations (with honours).
-ends-
For further information on this news release, please contact:
Craig Bingham
Chief Executive Officer
Portfolio Partners
Telephone: (03) 9220 0382
Carl Jones
Client Communications Manager
Portfolio Partners
Telephone: (03) 9220 0316
Mobile: 0433 828 343
Notes to editors:
Portfolio Partners
Portfolio Partners is an Australian fund management company responsible for managing over A$10 billion across a range of innovative trusts and client mandates. Since inception in 1994, the company has developed a strong reputation as a leading specialist in the active management of Australian assets. Portfolio Partners approach to investment management reflects our own corporate values - to be agile, innovative, passionate and insightful.
Portfolio Partners is owned by London-based Morley Fund Management Group - one of the UK's largest fund management companies and is part of the international investments and insurance group Aviva plc.
In September 2008, along with ten other specialist asset management businesses owned by Aviva, Portfolio Partners will become part of one entity to be called Aviva Investors.
About Aviva Investors
Aviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva plc, the world's fifth-largest insurer. Aviva Investors will have an initial £316 billion ($623 billion) of assets under management and significant growth potential.
It will operate under a single brand with more than 1,300 employees in 15 countries across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Subject to regulatory approval, Aviva Investors will combine businesses in the UK (Morley Fund Management), North America. (Aviva Capital Management, MFM International, Aviva Investment Canada), France (Aviva Gestion d'Actifs), Australia (Portfolio Partners), Poland (CUIM Polska), Ireland (Hibernian Investment Managers), Spain (Aviva Gestion SGIIC (Gestora)) and Romania (CertInvest) and work in partnership with Delta Lloyd Asset Management in the Netherlands.