Mason Stevens welcomes new asset allocation lead from AMP

Mason Stevens has appointed a portfolio manager from AMP as its new head of asset allocation as David Macri departs after just over a year. 

Macri joined Mason Stevens in October 2023 from his role as chief investment officer at Australian Ethical but has now announced he will be joining profit-for-purpose investment manager NorthStar Impact. 

AMP executive Brad Creighton has been tapped as Macri’s replacement to head up asset allocation, bringing with him 17 years of extensive investment experience across portfolio management, trading, macroeconomic and quantitative research, and risk management.

Creighton spent over six years at AMP as a co-portfolio manager of the multi-asset, income generator and MyNorth Retirement Fund. He was the head of the dynamic asset allocation working group and worked closely with the chief economist towards formulating short- and medium-term investment strategies.

His resume also includes over three years as portfolio manager at Millennium Partners and risk manager roles at Aviva Investors and Credit Suisse.

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In the new role, Creighton is tasked with leading the strategic and dynamic asset allocation solutions for Mason Stevens’ platform clients, collaborating with the firm’s chief investment officer Jacqueline Fernley.

Mason Stevens chief executive, Tim Yule, said the specialist wealth platform provider was excited to welcome Creighton to the team. 

“His wealth of experience and passion for delivering exceptional client outcomes align perfectly with our commitment to providing high-quality investment solutions. We are confident Brad will continue to drive innovation and performance in this important role,” he said.

The firm also thanked Macri for his contributions during his tenure. 

Macri is set to join NorthStar Impact as an executive director and portfolio manager. He holds over 26 years of experience across equities research, portfolio management and strategic planning, particularly within responsible investment.

Kerry Series, CIO and founder of NorthStar Impact Funds, said Macri’s expertise in ethical investing and strong track record of managing high-performing portfolios serve as an “excellent fit” for the firm.

“His extensive experience and insights underscore his deep understanding of combining financial returns with a strong responsible investing framework.

“We’re extremely happy to have him on board and know that he’ll be able to help us grow and to continue to deliver strong investment returns and real-world impact,” he said. 

Prior to joining Mason Stevens last year, Macri served as CIO at Australian Ethical Investment for almost 15 years, where he oversaw funds under management grow from $500 million in 2009 to $8.5 billion upon his departure. 

His vast experience also includes several years in analyst roles at Mercer, Credit Suisse Asset Management, and Macquarie Securities. 

Commenting on his appointment, Macri said: “The impact investment philosophy of NorthStar resonates strongly with me. Listed equities provide good opportunities for investors that want to achieve positive social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns. 

“I believe that NorthStar has a best-in-class offering in listed equities impact investing and I’m keen to contribute to scaling the business.”

He also voiced enthusiasm about contributing to the growth of impact investing in Australia. 

“I am particularly pleased to be working in the small and microcap sector again, to help manage and research existing investments, and to discover new impact and alpha generating opportunities,” Macri said. 

Last year, NorthStar Impact was appointed as a specialist external listed equities manager at $139 billion fund UniSuper, with the portfolio sitting within the mega fund’s Sustainable Balanced and Sustainable Growth investment options. 

It was recently named as a 2024 responsible investment leader by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).