Executive management
Dominic Stevens - Chief Executive Officer
Prior to accepting the role of Chief Executive Officer in September 2008, Dominic Stevens was Deputy Managing Director of Challenger. Mr Stevens joined Challenger in September 2003 during which time he primarily held responsibility for overseeing Challenger's capital, risk management and strategy group.
Prior to joining Challenger, Mr Stevens led the foundation and was the Senior Managing Director of Zurich Capital Markets in the Asian region. Zurich Capital Markets Asia, specialised in the areas of structured finance, derivative solutions and provision of risk management products to investors in alternative assets.
From 1987 to 1999 Mr Stevens held a number of senior roles at Bankers Trust. Mr Stevens was a Partner of Bankers Trust Company, where he headed the Bankers Trust commodity businesses globally (ex energy). In addition Mr Stevens was responsible for the derivatives risk management business at Bankers Trust Australia.
Mr. Stevens was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Finance in 1986 from the University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia.
Dominic Stevens will step down as CEO in February 2012.
Brian Benari - Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer
Brian Benari is responsible for the Group's operational areas, which includes finance, legal, tax, compliance, information technology and corporate affairs functions.
Mr Benari joined Challenger in 2003 and prior to taking on this role in November 2008, Mr Benari was Chief Executive of Challenger Mortgage Management, establishing the division with the acquisition of Interstar Securities, one of Australia's largest mortgage lenders. Under Mr Benari's leadership the division expanded to include residential and commercial mortgage lending arms as well as owning or having material interests in three of the four largest mortgage broker platform operations in Australia.
Mr Benari, a Chartered Accountant, was with Zurich Capital Markets Asia in the role of Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer and has also held senior executive roles with Macquarie Bank and Bankers Trust.
Brian Benari has been appointed CEO designate.
Richard Howes - Chief Executive, Life
In November 2008 Richard Howes was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Life, with overall executive responsibility for the management of Challenger's APRA regulated Life Company. Prior to this appointment Mr Howes held dual roles at Challenger, firstly as the Principal Executive Officer - Balance Sheet, and secondly as Head of Debt Investments, responsible for the creation and management of specialised funds within the areas of fixed income, structured credit, hedge funds and other alternative investment asset classes.
Mr Howes joined Challenger in June 2003 from Zurich Capital Markets where he was responsible for the derivatives franchise that provided risk management solutions to major companies and institutions globally. Prior to that time, Mr Howes was co-head of Agricultural Commodities at Macquarie Bank in Chicago where he was responsible for staff in Chicago, New York, London, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Sydney. Mr Howes also spent six years at Bankers Trust within the financial markets group in financial and commodity derivatives.
Robert Woods - Chief Executive, Funds Management
Rob Woods is responsible for Challenger's Funds Management business, which includes our Boutique Partnership and Aligned Investment activities. The business manages over $22 billion of FUM for both our clients and the Life Company. Rob joined Challenger in November 2003 and prior to taking his current role, he was the Chief Executive of Challenger's Asset Management business which included Challenger Life and our Specialised Fund activities. In this role Rob was responsible for managing over $10 billion of assets, in the Infrastructure, Real Estate and Credit asset classes.
Paul Rogan - Chief Executive, Distribution, Product & Marketing
Paul Rogan joined Challenger in November 2005 and was appointed to his current role in January 2011. In this newly created role Mr Rogan is responsible for the strategic direction and co-ordination of the Group's distribution, product and marketing functions. Mr Rogan has over 25 years experience in financial services both in Australia and overseas, including executive management roles at Lend Lease and NAB (where Mr Rogan was CEO of NAB's Wealth Management operations in Europe). Mr Rogan's prior roles with Challenger include Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive General Manager, Capital Risk & Strategy.
Richard Willis - Chief Risk Officer
Richard Willis joined Challenger in November 2003 and was appointed to his current role in January 2011. Prior to taking on his current role Mr Willis was Head of Risk and Treasury where he was responsible for overseeing Challenger's treasury and risk functions.
Prior to joining Challenger, Mr Willis held senior roles at Zurich Capital Markets (Asian region) specializing in areas of structured finance and at Bankers Trust in the Debt Capital Markets division specializing in securitization.
Blair Beaton - Head of Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions
Blair Beaton joined Challenger in July 2003 and since that time has been involved in all of the Company's significant strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Challenger he was a partner in a Canadian corporate finance advisory boutique. Mr Beaton worked at Price Waterhouse in Canada and Australia and has specialised in strategy and M&A for over 20 years.
Jennifer Wheatley - Executive General Manager Human Resources
Jennifer Wheatley joined Challenger in October 2002. Prior to this Ms Wheatley was Human Resources Manager at Mistearl Northshore the largest franchisee of Shell Service Stations in Australia. Ms Wheatley has provided HR consultancy services to numerous companies in Australia, including the Peugeot Dealer Group, during its transfer to the Sime Darby Motor Group; Wattyl and the Oroton Group.