JANA announces five new heads of department

As of today, JANA has announced the appointments of five new department Heads. The moves mark the latest in the leadership structure consolidation at one of Australia’s largest investment consultancies, following the appointment of three new General Managers late last year.

Four of the five appointments are promotions:

• Andrew Cassar as Head of Australasian Equities, responsible for JANA’s Australian Equities investment manager and capital markets research, portfolio construction, and performance outcomes for client Australian Equities portfolios. Mr Cassar has over 10 years’ experience at JANA, most recently as a senior consultant.
• Iain North as Head of Alternatives, leading the Alternatives research team and portfolio development, as well as assisting in the development of clients’ sustainability journeys. Mr North joined JANA in January 2018 as a member of the alternative investment strategies research team.
• Courtney Wilder as Head of Portfolio Design, responsible for leading the development of JANA’s client advice as it pertains to Portfolio Design. Mr Wilder has worked over 13 years at JANA, including over 7 years as Head of Alternative Investment Research.
• Gary Wilson as Head of Capital Markets Group, responsible for leading the insight into JANA’s investment strategy including revenue forecasting, strategy and operational requirements. Mr Wilson has previously worked as a Senior Consultant at JANA.

The strengthening of the leadership team also includes the external appointment of Chris Worthington as Head of Quantitative Analysis & Risk. Mr Worthington has over 10 years’ experience at NZ Super Fund Senior Analyst and as Senior Investment Strategist, Asset Allocation, as well as economist roles at Gareth Morgan Investments and Infometrics Ltd.

In this role, Mr Worthington will help to drive JANA’s continued development of research relating to quantitative approaches, techniques, risk management and modelling.

JANA CEO, Jim Lamborn, said of the new appointments, “In changing, uncertain times, institutional investors increasingly need to lean on the experience of partners that have depth and insight.”

“Our clients will be well-serviced by this combination of elevating our existing staff into new leadership roles, who have many decades worth of experience and are fully embedded into JANA’s research-first philosophy, alongside new talent in Chris Worthington who brings a new perspective to our fast-growing quantitative risk team.”

Courtney Wilder, Chris Worthington and Gary Wilson reporting to GM Investment Strategy Kirsten Temple, with Andrew Cassar and Iain North reporting to GM Research Anthony Ballard.

The new roles are in effect immediately.