Privately-owned financial adviser group Synchron has announced a major management re-organisation appointing Ian Knight as General Manager, Operations as Director Don Trapnell steps back from the day-to-day business to focus on his role as Executive Director.
A statement from the company says it is establishing four new senior positions, including the General Manager, Operations, role responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and a General Manager, Legal and Compliance.
The two other senior positions represent an expansion of the compliance team and include a Head of Compliance – Policy and Regulatory, currently vacant, and a Head of Compliance – Advice Assurance. Both these positions will report to the GM, Legal and Compliance.
Synchron says that effective immediately, former CommInsure senior executive, Ian Knight, has been appointed GM, Operations; Synchron Head of Compliance, Michael Jones has been promoted to GM, Legal and Compliance and Synchron Practice Development Manager, Alison Massey has been promoted to Head of Compliance – Advice Assurance.
Don Trapnell says the appointments represent the next phase of Synchron’s 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,” Trapnell says.
“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.”
Knight has more than 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry, most recently as Acting Head of Distribution for CommInsure. He also managed CommInsure’s Victorian/Tasmanian Retail Sales team.
Trapnell says the group is also very pleased that Michael Jones has accepted the newly-created role of General Manager, Legal and Compliance.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Business (Banking & Finance) and a Bachelor of Laws. He was formerly Director, Compliance for UBS Wealth Management.
Trapnell says Alison Massey, who has been promoted to Head of Compliance – Advice Assurance, has a long career in financial services.
“I have known Alison for over 30 years and have a deep respect for her abilities,” he says.
“We believe that collectively, the Synchron management team has the wealth of industry knowledge necessary to continue to meet ever-increasing regulatory obligations and deliver outstanding outcomes for advisers and their clients,” Trapnell says.
