New chief for ipac Australia named

Neil Swindells has been named as the new chief executive of ipac, with current ipac chief executive and head of advice for AXA, Peeyush Gupta, stepping down in April.

Swindells will step into the role following Gupta’s departure. Gupta is leaving the group to pursue “business and personal interests”, a statement from ipac said.

Swindells will now oversee AXA’s advice businesses in Australia and Asia.

A key objective for ipac over the coming period is the integration of ipac Asia with ipac Australia, according to ipac executive chairman Arun Abey.

“The incorporation of ipac Asia under Neil’s leadership will create a smoother experience for clients transferring between countries,” Abey said.

He said the move would also create economies of scale, with the group beginning to target advice on an international scale.

Swindells was a senior executive at AXA from 2000 to 2007, with roles including general manager, distribution, and general manager of product and marketing. While at AXA, Swindells was also a director of the boards of AXA’s advice businesses, including ipac.

Gupta was a co-founder of ipac after beginning his career as a financial planner. He was then appointed chief executive of the group in 1996.

Ipac is a national dealer group with more than $11 billion of funds under advice. The group was acquired by AXA in 2002.