Kristian Fok appointed CEO and Marianne Walker Deputy CEO

Cbus Super announce that Kristian Fok has been appointed Cbus Chief Executive Officer and Marianne Walker Deputy CEO following a competitive recruitment process.

As CIO, Kristian led the development and implementation of Cbus’ hybrid internalisation strategy, which has seen the management of 38% of the fund’s assets brought in-house and total cumulative costs savings for members of over $500 million.

Cbus Chair Wayne Swan said the appointments of Mr Fok and Ms Walker strengthen the fund’s leadership at an important transition point for the super industry.

“Kristian has put Cbus’ investment team at the leading edge of pension funds around the world and we are excited that he will now devote his considerable abilities to the wider leadership of the fund,” Mr Swan said.

“He innately understands the fund, its heritage, and our connection to the built environment sector.

“Kristian is devoted to the profit-to-member model that underpins industry super funds and the Board looks forward to working with him to continue delivering for members.”

Mr Swan added, “Likewise, Marianne brings a genuine and no-nonsense member first attitude to her work.

“Administering superannuation funds has increased in complexity as funds have expanded, and Marianne carries a fierce determination to cut through barriers and deliver the best possible services for our 900,000 members, now and into the future.

“She calls a spade a spade and what you see is what you get. Our members and sponsoring organisations appreciate that.”

Mr Swan said Mr Fok and Ms Walkers’ immediate focus would be expanding the fund’s offering on retirement and improving services for members.

“For forty years Cbus has been hugely successful at building members’ account balances,” Mr Swan said.

“Our challenge now is to make sure we deliver members the best possible retirement experience and we are confident we have the right leaders for that task.”

Mr Fok has been Acting CEO since the retirement of Justin Arter in May.

Mr Fok has been the fund’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the last decade and had a close association with the fund as an asset consultant for a decade before that. Ms Walker has been a Cbus executive since 2019 and is also the fund’s Chief Member Officer, joining the fund from Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services where she had been Executive Director of Customer Support.