Midwinter announces key changes to senior ranks

Bravura-owned wealthtech Midwinter has made several changes to its management line-up, including the appointment of two new senior BDMs.

Catherine Lavender and Jason Goodacre will join the firm as senior business development managers (BDMs).

Lavender joins Midwinter from boutique advice solutions business Centrepoint Alliance, where she served as head of distribution over her nearly six-year run.

She previously held senior roles at ClearView, including as BDM, and at Colonial First State.

Bravura noted Lavender’s more than 24 years’ experience in financial services, recognising her “deep expertise in adviser-centric distribution strategies and product value alignment.”

Goodacre boasts three decades of experience in enterprise software sales and financial market solutions, including roles at Praemium, Iress, BT Financial Group and Thomson Financial.

He was most recently with digital lending technology developer Loanworks, including as manager of outsourced services and customer relationship manager.

Goodacre will play a key role in accelerating Midwinter’s go-to-market initiatives and driving growth, Bravura said, adding that the dual appointments reinforce the platform’s “keen focus on supporting independent financial advisers with established and trusted advice technology”.

In addition to the two new BDMs, Leica Urrutia will take on a new role as Midwinter’s senior manager of service and operations.

“With 23 years in client success and operations across banking, insurance, and technology, Leica is focused on scaling service delivery, further enhancing client experience and supporting ongoing and sustainable growth of the business across IFA and Enterprise markets,” Bravura said.

The company has also promoted Michelle Lusty, currently product manager – advice, to lead Midwinter’s Advice Product team.

Lusty was recognised for her nearly two decades’ experience in product development roles at Bravura, including 11 years overseeing the strategic direction and product management of Sonata, the firm’s wealth management and funds administration solution.

Roshan Ranasinghe has also expanded her remit as head of client delivery across both Midwinter and superannuation products for enterprise program delivery, including digital advice.

Bravura chief executive for APAC Paul Dunn said the new appointments “mark an important milestone in Midwinter’s growth journey”, with the company seeking to unlock new growth opportunities across the APAC region.

“As we double down on innovation and regional expansion, bringing in and elevating top-tier talent ensures we’re not only meeting market demand, but leading the way in advice technology,” he added.

Bravura said its talent strategy for Midwinter is “directly aligned to its broader growth agenda, with an emphasis on expanding distribution, accelerating product development, and delivering an exceptional client experience across its expanding footprint within Australia’s financial services sector”.