ASIC appoints new consumer protection head

TheAustralian Securities and Investments Commission(ASIC) has appointed Greg Tanzer as executive director of consumer protection and international relations, replacing Peter Kell who has been appointed chief executive of the Australian Consumers Association (ACA).

Tanzer is currently ASIC’s executive director of international relations and regional coordination, and the regional commissioner for Queensland. He joined the regulator in 1992 as Queensland’s regional counsel, and was subsequently appointed national manager legal, and regional commission for the ACT.

One of Tanzer’s coups during his time in Queensland was the investigation and subsequent actions of advisers and administrators involved with the Wattle Group investment scheme, including the jailing of its director Geoffrey Dexter, which he oversaw.

Tanzer also led ASIC’s inquiry into the financial advising activities of real estate agents in 2000.

On the appointment, acting ASIC chairman Jeffrey Lucy says, “Greg brings an outstanding mix of senior management experience, legal expertise and most significantly, an in-depth knowledge and understanding of ASIC’s consumer protection responsibilities.”

His background prior to joining ASIC was in corporate law, where he worked as a departmental adviser to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon. Michael Duffy.

Tanzer also served as a member of the secretariat for the Wallis inquiry, which led to the creation of ASIC and theAustralian Prudential Regulation Authority.

He will be assisted in the executive management of the Consumer Protection directorate by Delia Rickard, who is currently deputy executive director, and commences in his new role on 11 March 2004 — the same day the FSRA takes effect.