Westpac confirms new head of advice

By Craig Phillips

BT Financial Group has formally appointed the interim head of its financial planning and advice business, Justin Greiner, permanently into the role four months after he took over from Scott Walters in an acting capacity.

Greiner, who stepped into the position at the beginning of March following Walters departing after less than a year in the role, was previously BT head of practice development.

Reporting to head of distribution and marketing, Rob Coombe, a BT spokesperson says Greiner will have responsibility for the Westpac Financial Planning dealer group along with the bank’s ongoing Sunrise strategic project.

Greiner’s formal appointment into the position signals a return to the head of financial planning and advice role he initially took on after joining Westpac following the bank’s acquisition of SagittaWealth Management in 2002.

However, he later became head of practice development for BT, with Scott Walters assuming a redefined role as head of financial planning in May 2003, following financial planning head Brett Himbury leaving to join the Commonwealth Bank to become executive general manager financial planning and advice services.

The redefined role that Greiner takes on was previously confined to Westpac Financial Planning and Advice, however, this was broadened last year to bridge the gap between Westpac’s advisory network and BT’s wealth management business.