QSuper Promotes Head of Funds to New CIO

Charles Woodhouse will become the new chief investment officer of Australia’s QSuper in September when current chief Brad Holzberger retires.

Woodhouse has been with the fund since 2009 as its head of funds management, overseeing A$55 billion of the superannuation plan’s A$91 billion ($63.4 billion) in assets under management. He was also briefly its deputy CIO in 2015. Chief Executive Officer Michael Pennisi made the call to promote him.

“We conducted a comprehensive search both across Australia and internationally, but ultimately the skills we needed were well known to us,” Pennisi said. “Charles has impeccable credentials which is testament to the depth of the investment team created under Brad Holzberger.”

The outgoing CIO announced his retirement last year. Like his successor, he’s also been with the plan since 2009. He said it was “gratifying” that Woodhouse can “maintain the stability which has put QSuper in such a strong position.”

Last week, superannuation rating agency Chant West ranked QSuper first for performance in the past year and also as the 10-year industry leader. The agency highlighted QSuper’s long-term bond and infrastructure strategy, which outperformed its peers.

“Investment markets are always challenging, but we have a depth of experience in assets that others are just finding their way to,” said the incoming CIO. “Our scale and the relationships that we have built with outstanding investment partners have resulted in returns for our members that have exceeded those of most institutional and private investors.”

Prior to QSuper, Woodhouse was the director of alpha investments at the Queensland Investment Corporation.
 

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