Share board appoints new leader

December 12 2008

Share board appoints new leader

Richard Thomas, a Chairman and Director of industry boards Financial Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAANZ) and the Professional Advisors Association (PAA) has been elected to chair the rapidly growing Share group.

Mr Thomas is from Share’s Dunedin member, The Highland Group, which joined in August this year.

Share General Manager Bronwyn Shanks says Richard Thomas’ effectiveness in bringing about change and driving board strategies in various organisations is well acknowledged.

“This, coupled with the respect he and his business command from industry leaders, ensured he was a popular choice,” she says.

He will be joined on the board by a new independent director, Darrin Franks of Conetworkz Management Solutions. He was responsible for the restructure of the 15-year-old Apex Financial Services Group into Share and headhunted Ms Shanks from Europe where she was working as Sales Manager Central Europe for Zurich International.

Ms Shanks says Franks’ skill as a distribution strategist will be an asset to Share as it launches several initiatives to an advisory market eager for innovation.

Since Ms Shanks helped launch the new structure in May this year Share has seen its number of advisers grow from 30 to 65. But more importantly the group’s annual premium volume is up 68% year-on-year.

The group’s name has been adopted by all its members as a brand and more than 50% have already completed the rebrand with all their collateral such as signage.

“Our strong focus now is for building a professional network of educated advisers,” Ms Shanks says. “Share has arrangements in place to provide all advisers fast track options for the Certificate in Financial Services and make this free of charge. We are already proud of the fact that 26 of the 44 PAA Education Scholarships this year were awarded to Share advisers.”

ENDS

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