Cbus Super boosts internal team with new Head of Portfolio Strategies

The $85 billion Australian industry superfund, Cbus Super, hired Leigh Gavin as Head of Portfolio Strategies. Gavin was poached from his position as Head of Investment Model Design at AustralianSuper where he had a quick rise to in February 2022 after joining the Fund’s Total Portfolio Management team in April 2021. Beforehand, he was chief investment officer of LUCRF Super following a long career advising some of Australia's largest funds at Frontier Advisors.

Cbus Chief Investment Officer Brett Chatfield said, “This is a key appointment to assist in accelerating the Fund’s internal equities capability, which currently manages around $7.7 billion in fundamental strategies^*, and we are delighted to secure Leigh for this role. Leigh is highly regarded across the industry with a proven record of optimizing portfolio outcomes. Leigh will also provide support across our broader internalisation programme as well as key strategic portfolio initiatives and business management activities.”

The critical role was created to continue to drive Cbus Super’s new five-year investment strategy, through which the Fund intends to internalize more than half its assets under management, while also enhancing global partnerships for greater access to new investment, according to a Cbus press release.

He holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investments, and a Masters of Applied Finance and Investments, both through FINSIA, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Verger Promotes Craig Thomas to Chief Investment Officer

OCIO investment advisors Verger Capital Management promoted Craig Thomas from co-chief investment officer to chief investment officer.  

“As a co-founder of Verger, Thomas played a pivotal role in shaping the company's vision and investment strategy since its inception. Serving as co-CIO, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering the firm’s philosophy of “Protect, Perform, Provide” through his deep industry knowledge, strategic insight, and a passion for enabling non-profit organizations to meet their goals in perpetuity… Since the firm’s inception in 2014, Thomas has partnered with Jim Dunn, Chief Executive Officer and former CIO, to lead the investment function of Verger,” according to a company blog.  The $2.5 billion firm cited his investment savvy and ability to deliver strong, risk adjusted returns as part of his acumen.