Synchron announces shake-up of management team

Effective immediately, Ian Knight has been appointed general manager of operations, Synchron said in a statement.

Mr Knight has more than 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry, most recently as acting head of distribution for CommInsure. He has also managed CommInsure’s Victorian/Tasmanian retail sales team.

He has also worked for financial services companies such as Financial Wisdom, AXA and the Bank of Melbourne, where he was head of financial planning.

Meanwhile, head of compliance Michael Jones has been promoted to general manager of legal and compliance, while practice development manager Alison Massey has been promoted to head of compliance – advice assurance.

Mr Jones was formerly director of compliance for UBS Wealth Management. He also previously worked as compliance manager for Industry Funds Management and as senior compliance manager and fraud prevention officer with National Australia Bank.

Ms Massey has been a practice development manager at Synchron since March 2018. Previously, she was a case manager for investments and advice for the now-defunct Financial Ombudsman Service as well as a national adviser solutions manager for Australian Unity.

Synchron’s other newly-established senior position, a head of compliance – policy and regulatory, remains vacant.

Both the head of compliance – policy and regulatory and the head of compliance – advice assurance will report to the general manager of legal and compliance.

Mr Trapnell said the appointments represent the next phase of its future management plans. 

“In 2016, we recruited Michael Jones as head of compliance to allow Synchron director, John Prossor, to slowly step back from day-to-day involvement in the business and focus on his responsibilities as a Synchron executive director,” he said.

“After more than 20 years at the helm, I have great pleasure in handing over the daily operation of Synchron to Ian, which will allow me to do the same. I am confident that, supported by our senior management team, Ian and Michael have what it takes to successfully lead Synchron into the next decade.”

Including the vacant position, the creation of the new roles will see Synchron’s overall staff numbers rise to 49.

Adrian Flores

Adrian Flores is a deputy editor at Momentum Media, focusing mainly on banking, wealth management and financial services. He has also written for Public Accountant, Accountants Daily and The CEO Magazine.

You can contact him on [email protected].