IFA announces appointment of new chief executive

9 November 2012


IFA announces appointment of new chief executive


The Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA) has announced the appointment of its new chief executive, Penny Mudford.

Board chairman Tony Vidler said he is delighted to have Ms Mudford join the IFA. Her knowledge and experience of how professionals operate and what makes them professionals will be very valuable to the IFA and its members.

Vidler says: “Her proven leadership and communication skills will put the IFA in a stronger position to be heard on critical issues that affect its members and to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.”

Ms Mudford has a strong background in professional standards, ethics, and professional conduct. She is a highly respected professional in her own right as a Fellow of the Arbitrator’s and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand. She is an experienced dispute resolution practitioner, has sat on registration boards and disciplinary tribunals for a variety of professions and has extensive experience in establishing and maintaining professional standards. She is an experienced chief executive, previously of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute.

"Penny is well versed in the challenges of developing a professional body like the Institute, and meeting the needs of its members. She brings to the IFA the unique skill set of maintaining a constant balance between assisting members who are voluntarily adopting higher standards than the wider industry and enhancing the business operations of the IFA, whilst remaining focused on the professional obligation to improve the consumer experience and confidence in the value of good advice," Vidler said.

Ms Mudford says she is excited about the opportunity to work with the IFA and its members and is looking forward to further developing its role as the professional body in the financial advice sector. She says she strongly believes in the value of good advice and understands the importance of the role that advisers play in helping clients make sound financial decisions in order to achieve their financial goals.

Ms Mudford will be responsible for the leading the IFA and ensuring its members have everything they need to help them and their clients to succeed through the benefit of the professional support and services of the Institute. She will also be responsible for the overall management of the office in Wellington and the services that the IFA provides to its members. She takes up her position on 26 November 2012.

ENDS

IFA Vision
To be recognised as the professional body for financial advice in New Zealand

IFA Mission
To help our members reach their full potential to deliver professional, quality financial advice
to New Zealanders
.
IFA Background
The Institute of Financial Advisers is the professional body for some 1,000 members, representing financial advisers in New Zealand. All members are individual members, not corporate members. We estimate that our members provide advice to some 200,000 New Zealanders each year, many of whom would be couples rather than individuals, with an overall client base of around 600,000.
Our members provide advice to their clients in the areas of insurance, investments, financial planning, work-based savings and insurance, retirement planning, estate planning and financial services generally. Their professional practices reflect the broad spectrum of New Zealand businesses – they operate as local SME’s, are part of large regional or national dealer groups, are associated with strong financial organisations, services companies in banking, funds management, or insurance, work in employee benefits organisations, or sometimes practice as lawyers, accountants and other professional advisers.
The Institute reinforces compliance with a code of ethics and practice standards, runs a Professional Conduct Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal that are independently chaired, offers education pathways that can lead to professional designations and the attainment of internationally recognised adviser marks, maintains and ensures compliance with a continuing professional development programme, and provides networking, education, development, and business practice forums at a national and regional level for members

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