AZ NGA appoints new group CFO | Australian Markets

Monetary advice and accountancy group AZ NGA (AZ Subsequent Era Advisory) has named former Fitzpatricks CEO Jodie Blackledge as group chief financial officer (CFO).

Blackledge replaces Dan Heckendorf as group CFO, AZ NGA confirmed. Heckendorf, a former Westpac and Pepper Cash alum, had held the place for over two years, together with an earlier stint as interim CFO.

AZ NGA group chief govt Paul Barrett stated Blackledge joins at an “important time for the business,” because it focuses on “accelerating growth, expanding our range of services, and achieving our ambitious goals and targets”.

Blackledge left Fitzpatricks final September after 4 years on the helm of the group, which incorporates subsidiaries Fitzpatricks Personal Wealth and Atrium Funding Administration.

She additionally served because the firm’s chief working officer and CFO, overseeing group strategy and acquisitions, earlier than her appointment as CEO in late 2020.

Previous to Fitzpatricks, Blackledge was CFO at insurance coverage providers collective AUB Group and The Belief Firm.

Barrett stated the new CEO would work carefully with him and the chief workforce “to leverage our commercial finance capabilities and drive sustainable value for employees, clients and shareholders”.

Blackledge stated she was “excited to be part of AZ NGA” and its investment “in the future of the [wealth and advice] sector”.

“The financial advice sector has transformed over the last five to seven years, with the exit of the banks and the larger institutions and the rise of professional advisers. The investment AZ NGA is making in the industry will shape the future of advice for the next generation of advisers and clients.”

Based in 2015 by former ANZ managing director of international advice, Paul Barrett, AZ NGA boasts a community of 34 accomplice companies, together with financial advice and accounting companies.

AZ NGA is backed by international investment management companies Azimut, primarily based in Italy, and the US’s Oaktree Capital Administration.

Oaktree, AZ NGA’s largest shareholder, confirmed a $240 million investment within the group final September.

Additionally in December, AZ NGA finalised the deal with Entireti to amass AMP’s advice licensees. On the similar time, AZ NGA acquired AMP’s minority stakes in 16 of its practices.

Collectively, AZ NGA manages round $15.1 billion of property beneath advice (as reported at 31 August 2024).