Appointments - 28 October 1999

Steve Blanche has departed AC&L to join MLC Adviser Solutions as the national sales manager, protection.

Steve Blanche has departed AC&L to join MLC Adviser Solutions as the national sales manager, protection.

Blanche has 19 years experience in the insurance industry, most recently as national development manager of AXA Australia subsidiary AC&L.

Blanche's role at MLC will be to boost sales of risk products through its various channels including the multi-agent and broker market.

Bodinnar Personal Financial Planners chairman and best selling author Harold Bodinnar has decided to call it a day as a financial planner.

Bodinnar, who has spent more than 15 years as a financial planner will continue in his chairman role, concentrating on areas of marketing and public relations.

One of the four directors of the firm, Rex Doughty, a certified financial planner (CFP) has been appointed to the position of director in charge of financial planning operations.

Doughty has more than 20 years experience in planning and operational roles. He has been a member of Bodinnar since 1994.

KPMG's Australian Financial Services Group chairman, John Buttle, has left the firm to join Arthur Andersen Financial Services as managing partner.

Chief executive officer and managing partner of Arthur Andersen, Chris Knoblanche approached Buttle to join Arthur Andersen because of his "strong expertise in financial services and the fact that he had managed a substantial practice at KPMG."

Cynthia Wilson has joined BBL Funds Management in a business development role.

Wilson, who for the past 14 years has been travelling around Australia and internationally hosting lectures in finance and financial planning, began work with BBL in early September.

She holds a property authority and runs her own financial planning practice.

Former senior vice-president and actuary with Bermudian reinsurer XL Mid Ocean Re, Guy Whitehead, has taken on the role of Reinsurance Australia Corp (ReAC).

The firm has experienced a loss-making year, posting a half-year loss of $115.8 million in August. Whitehead will be responsible for overseeing ReAC's underwriting book as well as evaluating new strategic options for the business.

Outsourcing specialist at Perpetual Fund Services (PFS), Alan Torrance, has been given additional responsibility over the group's development function.

Torrance will also manage the performance analytics activities at PFS. Before joining Perpetual, he spent 10 years with State Street, most recently as its

vice president.

Canadian banker and personal financial market expert, Ian Struthers has joined Green Line/TD Waterhouse in Australia at its managing director.

Previously vice president with Money Management Solutions, a unit of Toronto Dominion Bank, Struthers will now be responsible for the group's products, services and marketing. He will also oversee the electronic financial services and web-related initiatives of the firm.

Head of Deutsche Asset Management in Japan, Brian Scullin, has been promoted to head of asset management for the entire Asia Pacific region.

Scullin's promotion to the Asia Pacific region is part of the ongoing international restructuring of the bank's asset management division, following the global acquisition of Bankers Trust.

In his new position, Scullin will be responsible for the Bank's asset management businesses in Australia, South East Asia and Japan. He will relocate to Sydney next year in March to take up his new role.

In another move, chief executive officer of Deutsche Asset Management Australia, Elizabeth Bryan will leave her position after seven years.

Vice chairman of Deutsche Asset Management, Sir Robert Smith, commented on Bryan's contribution to the firm, saying, "under Elizabeth's guidance, the Australian business has quickly become a key member of the Deutsche Asset Management Group".

Leslie Hosking has resigned from his post as chief executive of the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE).

Hoskings resigned from SFE following an offer from the Australian centre for global finance to become its chief executive.

Commenting on Hosking's appointment to the financial services centre post, SFE chairman Rick Holliday-Smith said: "Hosking leaves SFE with our congratulations and best wishes for his future role, and our thanks for his significant contribution to the development of the futures industry in Australia during 15 years as chief executive."

Hosking has been a member of SFE since his appointment as chief executive in 1985. In this role he has overseen the expansion of SFE into the Asia Pacific's largest financial futures and options market.

Hosking will commence his role at the Australian centre for global finance in January.