Brighter Super boss on talent trail after high-profile resignations

Brighter Super boss Kate Farrar has put up the help wanted sign after a couple of senior executive departures in recent weeks including her chief financial officer.

Brighter Super boss Kate Farrar.

Brighter Super boss Kate Farrar has put up the help wanted sign after a couple of senior executive departures in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, chief financial officer Garnett Hollier resigned after 12 years with the fund, while chief people officer Allanna Kelsall also has headed to the exit doors. Lisa Behrendt has been appointed as interim chief people officer.

Hollier says he is leaving satisfied that the Brighter Super team has delivered the successful mergers of LGIAsuper, Energy Super as well as the acquisition of Suncorp Super.

“I am incredibly proud that during this time, our funds under management have grown fivefold, our membership has quadrupled, and most importantly, our members are experiencing real benefits from these mergers,” says Hollier.

Kelsall says that after 30 years in corporate life, she has been considering her “options carefully and now is a great opportunity for me to forge a new path.” “It has been a privilege to work alongside Brighter Super’s talented and dedicated team of over 200 people,” she says.

Kate Farrar looking for new hires after departures

Kelsall says that one of her proudest achievements has been leading the post-merger enterprise agreement that delivered wage increases, expanded hybrid work flexibility, and new leave entitlements. Farrar also is looking to replace a couple of directors.

Jennifer Thomas resigned in December after serving seven years as a member representative director while former Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson plans to step down.

Farrar says Brighter Super is incredibly grateful for the contributions of the people leaving. “We wish them all the very best as they embark on their next chapters,” she says. “And as a leadership team we remain committed to supporting the business and team through this transition and our next chapter.’’

The changes comes as Brighter Super’s accumulation and two pension options achieved SuperRatings Top 10 rankings in 2024. Brighter Super’s index balanced pension option was the second-highest performing in its class with a return of 16.76 per cent.

On the green

Queensland alcohol brand Hard Fizz is finding a new market on the greens with a younger, and more upbeat crowd flocking to the sport of golf in recent years.

Hard Fizz was recently ‘headhunted’ by the PGA to be a supplier to the Australian PGA in Brisbane after it ‘stole the show’ at the last two LIV Golf events in Adelaide.

DJ Fisher.

Fizz has become quite synonymous with the ‘shoey’ with their frontman and key investor, DJ Fisher, seen performing the stunt with Greg Norman, Cameron Smith and Ian Poulter.

Poulter recently posted to his 580,000 followers on Instagram a photo of him doing a shoey from a Fizz shoe and wearing an Australian flag bucket hat for Australia Day.

Fisher is now booked to perform at the next LIV Golf event in Adelaide on February 14 so there’s likely to be more hijinks there again.

Fizz last year reported an annual turnover of $12 million, and that’s in no small part attributed to its involvement with major events.

Building future

Stonewood Homes, one of New Zealand’s top residential builders. is setting up shop in Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast.

Stonewood Homes will partner with two longstanding, family-led builders – Darling Downs-based Ian and Dee Carrie, and Sunshine Coast’s Sean and Amanda Hewitt – joining as the organisation’s first Australian builder franchisees to lead these thriving regions.

Originally published as Brighter Super boss on talent trail after high-profile resignations