Iress announces appointments across APAC wealth propositions team

Iress confirmed that it has expanded the team with a number of newly created roles, focusing on executing its growth strategies across digital advice, Xplan and strategic partnerships.

“This team plays an important role in providing solutions to new and existing Xplan customers, which will help them thrive in a growing client landscape,” Iress stated.

The team includes:

• Tanya Martin, general manager of wealth propositions
• Tom Cochran, head of partnerships
• David Collins, head of digital advice
• James Blanton, head of Xplan sales
• Thomas Cunich, Xplan sales associate

Martin commenced at Iress in September 2024, bringing vast experience working in partnerships, customer success, relationship management and strategic alliances positions.

Cochran, who began in the head of partnerships role this month, previously spent over two years at Morningstar as a national account manager and associate business development manager (BDM).

Iress’ head of digital advice, Collins, joined the company last November and has worked in several leadership roles covering digital strategy, marketing and technologies, including at Deloitte Digital.

Meanwhile, Blanton commenced in the head of Xplan sales position in October 2024. He previously served as a regional manager at Centrepoint Alliance and a BDM at ClearView Wealth.

Iress’ Xplan sales associate, Cunich, brings support staff experience to his new role, having spent four years as a paraplanner at Sydney Financial Planning and one year as an associate at SentinelWealth.

The suite of appointments follow Iress’ announcement earlier this week confirming that it will divest its superannuation business as the latest step in its transformation program, allowing it to focus on wealth management.

Iress entered into a binding share sale and purchase agreement to divest the arm to global financial services provider Apex Group.

The software firm said the divestment to Apex Group came with the realisation that it was “not the natural owner” of a regulated superannuation services provider. However, it maintained there is a role for Iress to play in delivering its advice and education software to super funds and their members.

All of Iress' current superannuation staff, including the division's CEO Sam Wall who commenced last September, will transfer over to Apex Group upon completion of the transaction, the firm stated.

Completion is expected in the second quarter of 2025 and structured to release $40 million in cash consideration, plus additional payments of up to $20 million over 12 months subject to agreed revenue milestones.

In October last year, Iress announced that chief executive Marcus Price would transition to focus on strategic growth opportunities for the business as it progresses with its transformation program.

The firm also announced Xplan co-founder Jason Hoang would step back from his role as trading and market data chief executive, with Geoff Rogers taking over the position.