Ex-Insignia chief unveiled as Nestworth CEO

AZ NGA-owned Nestworth Financial Strategists has announced the appointment of Helen Blackford as chief executive, replacing the outgoing Paul Fog.

Blackford, an experienced financial planner and adviser, most recently served as chief executive of Insignia Financial’s licensing and advice services businesses, Millennium 3, Lonsdale and IOOF Alliances, departing from the role at the end of 2023.

Coinciding with Blackford’s departure late last year, Insignia offloaded the Millennium3 advice business to WT Financial.

Blackford replaces Paul Fog, who, the firm confirmed, will step back from regular duties at Nestworth to pursue “personal lifestyle goals”.

Fog will remain on the Nestworth board as a non-executive director and will continue his association with the broader AZ NGA Group.

Paul Barrett, Nestworth chair and AZ NGA chief executive welcomed Blackford as “an experienced wealth management executive with a proven track record of leading large teams of people, driving transformational change and delivering results”.

Barrett added: “We are extremely fortunate to have Helen on board at this critical time to take over from Paul, who has been central to Nestworth’s success to date and hands over a business in extremely good shape.”

Prior to joining Insignia Financial, Blackford held several senior roles at ANZ Wealth Management and was previously head of advice business services at Colonial First State.

Fog, who served just over six years as chief executive of Nestworth, was recognised for his successful stewardship of the fast-growing wealth services firm, whose revenue and employee numbers have doubled during his tenure.

Nestworth further noted Fog’s instrumental role in the firm’s successful acquisition by accounting and financial advice collective AZ NGA, completed in 2021, as well as his spearheading of its integrated ‘super firm’ strategy.

“M&A is a key plank in the group’s strategy, which last year saw Nestworth acquire Australian Unity’s financial advice and corporate superannuation services business.”

Nestworth, founded in 2004, today counts 82 employees, around 4,000 clients and seven offices across Australia.