Spark Financial makes personnel changes

Yasmine Raso

Senior Journalist, Financial Newswire

21 July 2023

Spark Financial has announced several changes to its personnel structure, with the addition of ‘coaches’ to its advisory and compliance team and the expansion of two existing senior roles.

Damien Kirby and Tennille Catchpole have been appointed to the newly created roles of Advice and Compliance Coach in the southern and northern regions, respectively, where they will be responsible for enhancing communication between the group’s 80 financial advisers and executive team.

Kirby and Catchpole will also support client service delivery and practice management.

Shane Isbester, as Head of Professional Standards and Governance, has had his remit expanded to focus on Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) policy and governance, Quality of Advice Review (QAR) response and integration, adviser onboarding and the group’s audit function.

Head of Practice Development, Cathy Kildea, has also been appointed as Advice and Compliance Coach for newly welcomed financial advice practices.

“As Spark Financial continues to prioritise its mission of delivering quality advice to clients, the addition of Damien and Tennille to the team along with the expanded remits of Shane and Cathy, will be of great value to our adviser base and their clients,” Founder and CEO, Arthur Kallos, said.

“Ensuring we have the necessary guidance and coaching in place will go some way in setting up our advice practices amid an ever-changing regulatory environment.

“On behalf of the organisation, I would like to extend a warm congratulations to Damien, Tennille, Shane and Cathy, and look forward to seeing their contributions to Spark Financial.”

The appointments, which are effective as of July 2023, follow the group’s announcement of its new profit-for-purpose operating model, through which it will donate 100 per cent of its profits to charity partners committed to improving financial literacy of young Australians.