Ms Kerr-Smith joined Australian Unity in 2017 as Group Executive, Finance & Strategy, where she has led the Group’s finance function and overseen the shaping and implementation of the Group’s strategic objectives. She has also led Australian Unity’s engagement with a range of market stakeholders to advance its capital markets, community value and social infrastructure agendas.

In announcing the appointment, Australian Unity’s Group Managing Director, Mr Rohan Mead said: “We look forward to Esther moving to the Wealth & Capital Markets CEO role. She has already demonstrated that she is a passionate leader with a deep capacity for value creation and impact. Esther will be a great asset to Australian Unity as we move into our next phase of growth, especially as we continue to pursue our social infrastructure agenda.” Ms Kerr-Smith’s prior experience covers financial services, infrastructure and human services design and delivery. She was a senior executive with the National Disability Insurance Agency— leading the market stewardship and commissioning functions and has held senior roles at strategy consulting firm Boston Consulting Group and within Macquarie Group’s infrastructure division.

Mr Mann joined Australian Unity in 2012 and has held numerous senior roles within the Finance and Strategy function. In 2015 as Group Treasurer, he oversaw the refinancing of the Group listed debt and was instrumental in issuing Australia’s first simple corporate bond. Prior to this appointment, Mr Mann was the Deputy Head of Finance and Group Chief Financial Officer where he led the Group transformation program for the Finance function.

Mr Mann’s prior experience includes a decade in London, predominantly working on large scale integration and transformation programs with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Announcing Mr Mann’s appointment, Mr Mead said: “Darren has played a significant role in shaping the Group’s finance function in the eight years he’s been with Australian Unity. This appointment recognises Darren’s capability to steward the company’s finances and shape our strategic growth agenda. Darren is an adept leader and will continue to motivate the Group through its next growth phase.”

Ms Kerr-Smith’s appointment follows David Bryant’s resignation as CEO of W&CM earlier this year and Mr Mann’s appointment comes after the appointment of Ms Kerr-Smith to the role of CEO, Wealth & Capital Markets, with both appointments to take effect on 13 July 2020.