First Sentier appoints ex-investment banker as CFO and strategy chief

First Sentier Investors has appointed seasoned finance chief and former investment banker Ashley Conn to head its financial and strategy function.

Conn succeeds interim chief financial and strategy officer Noel O’Brien, who stepped in following the departure of Suzanne Evans earlier this year after nearly six years in the role.

Conn joins First Sentier from Super Retail Group, owner of several high-profile Australian retailers, where he was interim general manager of group finance.

He was previously chief financial officer (CFO) at ASX-listed financial services and leasing group McMillan Shakespeare, overseeing a number of key functions, including statutory accounting, treasury, mergers and acquisitions, legal and risk.

He also held CFO roles at print solutions and IT consulting group CSG (owned by Fujifilm) and now-defunct mobile phone advertising startup Unlockd.

Notably, Conn served more than a decade at investment banking giants Goldman Sachs (based in Melbourne) and Morgan Stanley (in New York), specialising in mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity capital raisings.

He is also a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

First Sentier hailed the appointment of Conn as a “significant step” for the business, with the seasoned CFO to play a “crucial role in achieving the company’s strategic priorities and fostering a culture of collaboration across the business”.

Chief executive Mark Steinberg said Conn’s extensive experience and previous strategic advisory roles would be “invaluable” to the firm it continues to “drive growth and deliver value to our stakeholders”.

“Ashley’s proven track record in finance and investment banking will be instrumental in guiding our organisation’s financial strategy and operations.”

The Sydney-based investment firm, formerly known as Colonial First State Global Asset Management, oversees more than $208 billion in client funds under management.

Conn commences in his new role in late May.