Our people

Meet our executive team

Our Executive Team is made up of highly qualified and experienced leaders who bring complementary leadership skills to the group and share our mission to be the preeminent wealth management organisation in Australia that consistently puts clients first.

Renato Mota

Chief Executive Officer

Renato has over 20 years’ experience in financial services in senior management and corporate strategy roles.
He has led Insignia Financial through a series of forward thinking, strategic initiatives including the development of the company’s advice-led strategy, ClientFirst transformation and establishing the Advice Academy.
He joined Insignia Financial in 2003 and has previously worked for Rothschild, NAB and ANZ, and is a CFA charterholder.

Adrianna Bisogni

Group Company Secretary

Adrianna has more than 25 years’ experience in financial services and wealth management, legal, compliance and risk.
Most recently, she was Group General Counsel at McMillian Shakespeare and from 2003 to 2009, Group General Counsel at Insignia Financial.

David Chalmers

Chief Financial Officer

David has more than 20 years’ global finance experience across consulting, investment banking, private equity and corporate environments with Spark New Zealand, MediaWorks and Macquarie.
Most recently he was Chief Financial Officer of Spark New Zealand, the country’s largest telecommunications company.

Lawrence Hastings

Chief Legal Officer

Lawrence has over 25 years' legal experience in financial services and wealth management.
Lawrence was formerly a Partner at the law firm Clayton Utz and most recently the General Counsel for ANZ Wealth.

Sawsan Howard

Chief Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer

Sawsan has over 25 years’ experience in corporate and external affairs, marketing, communications, policy and advocacy and environmental, social and governance (ESG).
She has diverse experience across a range of sectors including financial services, infrastructure, energy and agriculture.
Most recently Sawsan was General Manager, Corporate Affairs Product, Brand and Reputation at AustralianSuper, and prior to this held senior roles at John Holland Group and Origin Energy.
Sawsan joined Insignia Financial as Chief Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer in August 2021.

Frank Lombardo

Chief Operating & Technology Officer

Frank has over 20 years’ experience across the financial services sector.
He previously held senior management roles at NAB and Aviva Australia.

Garry Mulcahy

Chief Asset Management Officer

Garry has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, wealth management and asset management.
He has held senior executive roles with MLC and NAB in Australia, New Zealand and the UK and continues to be Director of a number of Group companies in Australia and the UK.
Garry joined Insignia Financial upon the acquisition of the MLC business in June 2021.

Mark Oliver

Chief Distribution Officer

Mark has over 30 years’ experience across the financial services sector in Australia and the UK.
He previously held senior management roles at Credit Suisse Asset Management, Barclays Global Investors and most recently BlackRock Australia, where he was Managing Director, Retail Advisory & iShares.

Lorna Stewart

Chief Risk Officer

Lorna is an experienced senior risk professional, with over 20 years’ experience in risk management, compliance and assurance roles in both industry and consulting. She has worked in the UK, USA, Europe and Australia across a range of regulated industries.
Most recently she was the Chief Risk Officer, Australia and New Zealand of Bupa, one of Australia’s leading healthcare organisations.

Mel Walls

Chief People Officer

Mel has more than 20 years’ experience in human resources with expertise in culture, organisational development and change management.
She most recently was General Manager, People & Change for AusNet Services and prior to this held several senior roles in commercial banking.
She joined Insignia Financial as Chief People Officer in 2019.

Chris Weldon

Chief Transformation Officer

Chris has over 19 years’ experience in financial services and through his career has worked for several large Australian financial institutions including Insignia Financial, MLC and Challenger.
Chris has worked in senior product roles at both Insignia Financial and MLC and held the Head of Product role for Insignia Financial for over six years where he was responsible for the development and execution of product strategy for the entire Insignia Financial group.
During his time at MLC, Chris worked within the wrap business and led a number of product developments across both superannuation and investment wrap platforms.
Most recently, Chris led Insignia Financial’s frontline ClientFirst teams responsible for the delivery of the company’s service experience to our clients, advisers and employers.

Darren Whereat

Chief Advice Officer

Darren has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having held senior management roles across ANZ, BT Financial Group, Asgard and MLC.
He joined Insignia Financial upon the acquisition of the ANZ Wealth Advice business in October 2018.