Matthew Drennan
CIO and Head of Unit Linked Australia at Zurich Financial Services Australia- Claim this Profile
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Bio
LinkedIn User
I had the pleasure of working with Matthew Drennan as a member of the Leadership Team at Zurich Financial Services where Matt was Executive General Manager of Zurich’s Investments business. Matt was responsible for developing the strategy and implementing Zurich’s investments model, then developing strong partnerships with a suite of highly rated specialist investment managers. To implement the Investment strategy, Matt then built a high performing team of investment specialists and a sales team who were highly regarded in the industry. As a member of the Leadership Team, his influence and contribution went beyond the investments business. Matt made a strong contribution to the overall strategy and management of Zurich’s business in Australia. He was very much seen as the external face of Zurich and his opinions were sought and well regarded in the investment sector. He is an accomplished and entertaining commentator and speaker. Matt was highly respected by the Zurich Board, by his team, by clients and by his colleagues on the executive team. I would highly recommend Matt for his strategic and technical abilities, and as a strong contributor in a leadership role. It was a privilege to work with Matt as a colleague.
Catherine Hallinan
I worked with Matt at Zurich Australia as Head of Strategy, Investment Management and Life and General Manager, Investment Manager and Life from 2006 to 2009. Matt was the key architect of the strategic direction of the Investments business at Zurich. He developed an innovative manager selection model and was responsible for identifying specialised asset managers, in Australia and abroad, and negotiating and developing strategic partnerships with them. He recruited and trained the manager selection team and supported and mentored this team. He was also responsible for sales and distribution in the wholesale and retail markets and managed a dedicated sales team who were well regarded in the industry. Matt has an authoritative and down-to-earth presentation style and was much sought after as a speaker within the company and externally. He made a valuable contribution to the Zurich Investment Committee and the Investment Management and Life leadership team. I am pleased to recommend Matt as an experienced and successful asset management professional and a great colleague.
LinkedIn User
I had the pleasure of working with Matthew Drennan as a member of the Leadership Team at Zurich Financial Services where Matt was Executive General Manager of Zurich’s Investments business. Matt was responsible for developing the strategy and implementing Zurich’s investments model, then developing strong partnerships with a suite of highly rated specialist investment managers. To implement the Investment strategy, Matt then built a high performing team of investment specialists and a sales team who were highly regarded in the industry. As a member of the Leadership Team, his influence and contribution went beyond the investments business. Matt made a strong contribution to the overall strategy and management of Zurich’s business in Australia. He was very much seen as the external face of Zurich and his opinions were sought and well regarded in the investment sector. He is an accomplished and entertaining commentator and speaker. Matt was highly respected by the Zurich Board, by his team, by clients and by his colleagues on the executive team. I would highly recommend Matt for his strategic and technical abilities, and as a strong contributor in a leadership role. It was a privilege to work with Matt as a colleague.
Catherine Hallinan
I worked with Matt at Zurich Australia as Head of Strategy, Investment Management and Life and General Manager, Investment Manager and Life from 2006 to 2009. Matt was the key architect of the strategic direction of the Investments business at Zurich. He developed an innovative manager selection model and was responsible for identifying specialised asset managers, in Australia and abroad, and negotiating and developing strategic partnerships with them. He recruited and trained the manager selection team and supported and mentored this team. He was also responsible for sales and distribution in the wholesale and retail markets and managed a dedicated sales team who were well regarded in the industry. Matt has an authoritative and down-to-earth presentation style and was much sought after as a speaker within the company and externally. He made a valuable contribution to the Zurich Investment Committee and the Investment Management and Life leadership team. I am pleased to recommend Matt as an experienced and successful asset management professional and a great colleague.
LinkedIn User
I had the pleasure of working with Matthew Drennan as a member of the Leadership Team at Zurich Financial Services where Matt was Executive General Manager of Zurich’s Investments business. Matt was responsible for developing the strategy and implementing Zurich’s investments model, then developing strong partnerships with a suite of highly rated specialist investment managers. To implement the Investment strategy, Matt then built a high performing team of investment specialists and a sales team who were highly regarded in the industry. As a member of the Leadership Team, his influence and contribution went beyond the investments business. Matt made a strong contribution to the overall strategy and management of Zurich’s business in Australia. He was very much seen as the external face of Zurich and his opinions were sought and well regarded in the investment sector. He is an accomplished and entertaining commentator and speaker. Matt was highly respected by the Zurich Board, by his team, by clients and by his colleagues on the executive team. I would highly recommend Matt for his strategic and technical abilities, and as a strong contributor in a leadership role. It was a privilege to work with Matt as a colleague.
Catherine Hallinan
I worked with Matt at Zurich Australia as Head of Strategy, Investment Management and Life and General Manager, Investment Manager and Life from 2006 to 2009. Matt was the key architect of the strategic direction of the Investments business at Zurich. He developed an innovative manager selection model and was responsible for identifying specialised asset managers, in Australia and abroad, and negotiating and developing strategic partnerships with them. He recruited and trained the manager selection team and supported and mentored this team. He was also responsible for sales and distribution in the wholesale and retail markets and managed a dedicated sales team who were well regarded in the industry. Matt has an authoritative and down-to-earth presentation style and was much sought after as a speaker within the company and externally. He made a valuable contribution to the Zurich Investment Committee and the Investment Management and Life leadership team. I am pleased to recommend Matt as an experienced and successful asset management professional and a great colleague.
LinkedIn User
I had the pleasure of working with Matthew Drennan as a member of the Leadership Team at Zurich Financial Services where Matt was Executive General Manager of Zurich’s Investments business. Matt was responsible for developing the strategy and implementing Zurich’s investments model, then developing strong partnerships with a suite of highly rated specialist investment managers. To implement the Investment strategy, Matt then built a high performing team of investment specialists and a sales team who were highly regarded in the industry. As a member of the Leadership Team, his influence and contribution went beyond the investments business. Matt made a strong contribution to the overall strategy and management of Zurich’s business in Australia. He was very much seen as the external face of Zurich and his opinions were sought and well regarded in the investment sector. He is an accomplished and entertaining commentator and speaker. Matt was highly respected by the Zurich Board, by his team, by clients and by his colleagues on the executive team. I would highly recommend Matt for his strategic and technical abilities, and as a strong contributor in a leadership role. It was a privilege to work with Matt as a colleague.
Catherine Hallinan
I worked with Matt at Zurich Australia as Head of Strategy, Investment Management and Life and General Manager, Investment Manager and Life from 2006 to 2009. Matt was the key architect of the strategic direction of the Investments business at Zurich. He developed an innovative manager selection model and was responsible for identifying specialised asset managers, in Australia and abroad, and negotiating and developing strategic partnerships with them. He recruited and trained the manager selection team and supported and mentored this team. He was also responsible for sales and distribution in the wholesale and retail markets and managed a dedicated sales team who were well regarded in the industry. Matt has an authoritative and down-to-earth presentation style and was much sought after as a speaker within the company and externally. He made a valuable contribution to the Zurich Investment Committee and the Investment Management and Life leadership team. I am pleased to recommend Matt as an experienced and successful asset management professional and a great colleague.
Experience
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Zurich Australia
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Financial Services
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400 - 500 Employee
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CIO and Head of Unit Linked Australia
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Nov 2022 - Present
Head of Zurich's Savings and Investments business in Australia and a member of the Executive Team. Managing a team of 20 with AUD 4 billion under management, I am responsible for the development and execution of Zurich’s unit linked strategy in the Australian market place. The business model involves partnering with 3rd party manufacturers of investment solutions and marketing these to retail platforms and IFAs. Head of Zurich's Savings and Investments business in Australia and a member of the Executive Team. Managing a team of 20 with AUD 4 billion under management, I am responsible for the development and execution of Zurich’s unit linked strategy in the Australian market place. The business model involves partnering with 3rd party manufacturers of investment solutions and marketing these to retail platforms and IFAs.
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Group Head of Research and Portfolio Construction
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Feb 2015 - Feb 2018
IOOF has over $100b in FUMA. My role has responsibility for IOOF's research products and APL as well as the construction and maintenance of our MDA based model portfolios. I participate in/chair a number of the Group's investment committees and deal with external fund managers to construct our best of breed MDA models.A member of the senior management team, my role encompasses the development and execution of strategic initiatives to enhance the quality and reach of these services. IOOF has over $100b in FUMA. My role has responsibility for IOOF's research products and APL as well as the construction and maintenance of our MDA based model portfolios. I participate in/chair a number of the Group's investment committees and deal with external fund managers to construct our best of breed MDA models.A member of the senior management team, my role encompasses the development and execution of strategic initiatives to enhance the quality and reach of these services.
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Chief Investment Officer, SFG Australia
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Jan 2013 - Jan 2015
My key focus is the continued innovation in the $6b in-house investment offering using best-of-breed manager selection, and developing the Group’s model portfolios. As part of the senior management team, my role encompasses the development and execution of strategic initiatives to enhance the group's operations and profitability. My key focus is the continued innovation in the $6b in-house investment offering using best-of-breed manager selection, and developing the Group’s model portfolios. As part of the senior management team, my role encompasses the development and execution of strategic initiatives to enhance the group's operations and profitability.
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Principal
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May 2012 - Dec 2012
Working with organisations to provide strategic advice on portfolio construction and fund selection. A regular presenter at industry conferences and writer for trade and specialty publications. Working with organisations to provide strategic advice on portfolio construction and fund selection. A regular presenter at industry conferences and writer for trade and specialty publications.
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Zurich Australia
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Financial Services
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400 - 500 Employee
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Executive General Manager Investments
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2008 - 2012
As a member of the Australian and Regional Executive Committees, I participated in developing business strategy for all business lines as well as support services. Oversaw the management of 10 external funds, was a member of the investment committee and chaired the tactical asset allocation committee. Managed $7 billion in FUM, 70 staff in the Zurich investments business line and had direct P&L responsibilty for $40m in revenue Director on the board of Zurich Investment Management, member of the compliance committee and was the 2IC for the Life business in Australia.
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Director of Investments
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2003 - 2008
Re-engineered the Zurich Investments business model to move away from in-house managers to an outsourced model based on exclusive strategic partnerships with select fund managers. Built and led a team of 35 investment professionals in both front and back office functions. Was a member of the investments committee and had P&L responsibility for $20m.
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Director, Regional Chief Economist & Strategist Asia/Pacific
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1991 - 2002
Chaired the investment committee for Deutsche's $5 billion suite of diversified funds. Participated in the portfolio construction meetings for Deutsche's in-house Australian equities and fixed interest teams. Provided economic and strategic input into the investment decision making process. Chaired the investment committee for Deutsche's $5 billion suite of diversified funds. Participated in the portfolio construction meetings for Deutsche's in-house Australian equities and fixed interest teams. Provided economic and strategic input into the investment decision making process.
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Education
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AICD
Graduate of the Australian Company Directors Course -
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Macquarie University - Graduate School of Business
Masters In Funds Management -
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University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Commerce, Economics
Community
