Brett Chatfield, who has served as the CIO, is stepping down to join a private family office. His tenure was marked by a significant move to bring a large portion of Cbus's investment management operations internally. The fund has praised his contributions in this regard.
Leigh Gavin, the new CIO, brings a wealth of experience from the industry. Before joining Cbus in 2023, Gavin was the Head of Investment Model Design at AustralianSuper and previously served as the chief investment officer at LUCRF Super. This experience is set to bolster Cbus's investment strategies, leveraging a strong foundation laid by his predecessor.
Cbus CEO, Kristian Fok, has expressed confidence in Gavin's capabilities. Having previously served as a deputy director of Consulting at Frontier Advisers, Fok noted that Gavin's experience managing both local and international portfolios would be invaluable. Gavin is tasked with deploying over $20 billion of members' savings within the next five years, with specific goals including $5 billion targeted for private markets and $10 billion for domestic investments.
Fok highlighted the launch of Cbus’s active large-cap Core Australian equities strategy and the expansion of internal global market strategies as key initiatives under Gavin’s leadership. Fok also emphasized the importance of continuing to build the hybrid investment model that he first introduced, a strategy credited with attracting top-tier investment talent to Cbus and reducing investment costs.
This transition comes amid a year marked by scrutiny and changes within Cbus following the departure of several senior executives. Nevertheless, the fund is maintaining its momentum in attracting significant talent, as evidenced by the upcoming appointment of Matt Kempton as Head of Equity Strategies, who will report directly to Gavin.
The strategic realignment of Cbus’s investment operations underscores its commitment to driving down costs and enhancing investment capabilities, positioning the fund as a proactive player amid evolving market demands and the financial needs of its members.
