Wright steps down as Zenith CEO

Yasmine Raso

Senior Journalist, Financial Newswire

21 August 2023

Zenith Investment Partners has announced David Wright will bow out of his CEO role at the end of the year, with Chief Operating Officer, Jason Huddy, set to replace him.

Wright will will remain as an investment director and still be a member of the local Board and Executive team. In a statement today, he said his departure from the role was the right choice for the business and allows for more time spent directly with clients and staff.

“Zenith is a business that I have been intimately involved in building over the past two decades and I remain committed to its success. Our collective achievements over that time have exceeded our expectations and I remain confident that under the changed leadership structure, the business is on a strong path to deliver its high-quality product and service offering to clients,” he said.

“Now is the time to ‘pass the baton’ to Jason. Given his time with the business and strong understanding of Zenith’s operations and client base, I’m confident our clients, stakeholders and staff will be in good hands under his leadership. I believe that the business requires an experienced, strategic leader and Jason is that leader.

“I’m genuinely looking forward to remaining with the business and using my extensive fund research and portfolio management experience to support the portfolio solutions, research and sales teams to deliver on their client service responsibilities. My new role allows more time to focus on areas of the business which I’m really passionate about.”

Before joining Zenith as COO in 2019, Huddy began his career at National Mutual (AXA) in Perth before moving on to Macquarie where he spent 16 years, three of which were spearheading its UK banking and financial services business. He also spent time at NAB Capital Markets, NAB Asset Management and as Executive Director of a boutique fund manager in Melbourne.

“I’m delighted to be moving into the CEO role and also to continue to work with David and our broader team in delivering our research, portfolio and data services to clients,” he said.

“Over recent years, Zenith’s fund research and managed account capabilities have significantly expanded to include the super research services of Chant West, and the data and technology capabilities of our parent company, FE fundinfo. We continue to be an ambitious company for our clients and staff and I look forward to continuing the client-focused growth that David and the team have achieved to date.”