Australian Retirement Trust announces new appointments

Media release - 8 June 2023

Australian Retirement Trust (ART), one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, has announced 3 new appointments to the Fund’s wider leadership team to best position the $240 billion fund to deliver on its vision to be Australia's most chosen and trusted retirement partner.

Lachlan East has been appointed Chief Member Officer, Julie Bingham has been appointed to the role of Chief of Staff and Anne Fuchs has been appointed Executive General Manager of Advice, Guidance and Education. All appointments will take effect from 1 July 2023.

Lachlan East is a highly experienced financial services executive with more than 25 years’ global experience in the investment banking, wealth management and superannuation industries. Mr East has been with ART (previously Sunsuper) for more than 10 years as Chief Risk Officer and most recently Chief of Staff. Prior to that he held a range of senior leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Barclays Investment Bank.

As Chief Member Officer, Mr East will be responsible for the Fund’s member operations portfolio, member service experience, and anticipating and advocating for future member needs.

Julie Bingham has been appointed Chief of Staff. Ms Bingham has more than 20 years’ experience across a range of organisations including CitiStreet, MBF, Bupa, Mondial Assistance, the Australian Tax Office, First State Super and has spent the last six years at ART (previously QSuper), most recently as General Manager, Member Engagement.

In a sign of ART’s ongoing strategic commitment to the external financial adviser market and focus on financial advice and the power it has to materially change members’ lives in the lead up to and throughout retirement, the Fund has also appointed Anne Fuchs to the role of Executive General Manager Advice, Guidance and Education. The role will be responsible for championing financial advice across ART, seeking to influence and shape the advice industry and ensure financial advice is accessible for all members.

With more than 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, Ms Fuchs has held the role of Head of Advice, Guidance and Education at ART (previously Sunsuper) for the last 8 years and sits on multiple boards and external advisory committees. Prior to that she held roles at the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), Pinnacle Practice, ING Australia and Bankers Trust.

ART Chief Executive Officer Bernard Reilly said these announcements come at an exciting time as the Fund approaches 18-months since its merger.

“As key members of the Fund’s wider leadership team, these roles are integral to delivering on Australian Retirement Trust’s ambition to empower our 2.2 million members across Australia to retire well with confidence,” said Mr Reilly.

“These appointments are also evidence of the calibre of amazing internal talent we have at Australian Retirement Trust.”

Following the executive restructure in March, ART will make an announcement on the newly created Chief of Retirement role in the coming weeks.