Insignia poaches Woodall from ART to fill superannuation CEO role

Insignia Financial has announced the appointment of former Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Retirement Trust (ART), Dave Woodall, as its new CEO Superannuation.

To come into effect on 1 November, Woodall is the latest in a raft of senior executive appointments and changes recently announced by Insignia. Woodall will be responsible for spearheading the company’s superannuation arm, Master Trust Business, including product strategy and development; client operations; sales; and insurance.

Insignia chief executive, Scott Hartley, said the appointment of a seasoned executive like Woodall would help to drive the company’s growth in the superannuation space.

“I am excited to welcome Mr Woodall to the Insignia Financial team. His strong leadership experience and ability to drive enterprise focus and results will be an asset to the organisation as we establish our target state Master Trust strategy,” he said.

“Insignia Financial’s Master Trust business is a significant proportion of our business, as well as an area that provides a significant opportunity for profitable growth, and this is an area that Dave has a strong track record in.

“Dave’s capabilities and deep commercial expertise will help propel the ongoing transformation of our organisation as we simplify our Master Trust business.

“This appointment, along with the recent changes to our operating model, will provide clear lines of accountability and enhanced efficiency, to ensure we are better aligned to deliver to our customers, and stakeholders both now and into the future.”

Prior to his exit from the ART announced yesterday, Woodall led a wide range of the fund’s commercial activities including strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions (M&A); as well as managing all employer segments including corporate and institutional, regional, small-business and government clients; and leading brand, marketing and digital acquisition activity.

Woodall first joined Sunsuper in 2015 before it merged with QSuper in 2022 to become ART, and eventually oversaw the teams responsible for $60 billion of new employer mandates and more than 650,000 new members across employer and consumer direct channels.

“I am delighted to be joining the new Insignia Financial executive team. At a time where Australians are increasingly relying on their superannuation to deliver a comfortable retirement, I am looking forward to delivering innovative solutions, with great superannuation and retirement products,” Woodall said.

“The organisation has significant potential, and I was attracted to the opportunity to help realise this. I look forward to the challenge and recognise the responsibility that comes with the effective management of people’s retirement outcomes.”

Woodall’s appointment comes as Insignia also announced a business model restructure to create four dedicated channels: Asset Management, Superannuation (Master Trust), Wrap Platform and Advice.