Mariner follows launch with new appointments

Fledgling boutique financial services group Mariner Financial has bolstered its ranks with the appointment of a chief financial officer and another business development manager days after rolling out its first retail product.

FormerLumley Lifechief financial officer, Joseph Prsa has joined the Sydney-based firm in the same capacity along with formerZurich Financial Servicesbusiness development manager Chris Saunders - the latter boosting Mariner’s sales team to six.

Prsa has over sixteen years management, accounting and finance experience and prior to his time at Lumley was fund accounting manager with Permanent Trustees (nowTrust) and before that an auditor withKPMG.

As for Saunders, who will focus on growing the group’s retirement business - Mariner Retirement Solutions, prior to joining Zurich he worked in the same capacity forCiticorp Investmentsand before that worked as a financial adviser withApogee Financial Planningafter trading futures on theSydney Futures Exchangefor eight years.

Yesterday Mariner formally launched its anticipated Mariner Lifestyle Bonds product, making it the first product to come out of the group’s stable since kicking-off operations back in May of last year.

Group founder and former managing director ofChallenger InternationalBill Ireland says the market can expect it to launch a suite of financial retirement product this calendar year.

“This is a first in a series of innovative solutions aimed at giving retail investors better choice and flexibility in their investment and retirement planning,” Ireland says, referring to the new bond fund.