Harbour has named Chris Wilson as co-CEO to serve alongside founder, Andrew Bascand.
In a note, Harbour says Wilson will “focus on areas like key client relationships and distribution” while Bascand retains responsibility for the newly enlarged manager’s investment outcomes and research.
“Facing into distribution is an all-encompassing role,” Bascand said. “So it’s great to have Chris on board. He already knows the people well at wealth managers and advisory firms.”
Wilson comes to Harbour from now-sister firm, Jarden Wealth, where he held various senior positions including as chief from May this year following the group’s merger under the FirstCape umbrella with Harbour, JBWere and the BNZ investment division.
He joined Jarden in 2021 after a 15-year career with ASB (and then-associate life insurance firm, Sovereign), finishing up there as head of wealth advisory distribution.
Craig Patrick, JB Were NZ chief, is now also head of Jarden Wealth, replacing Wilson and bringing the two FirstCape advisory brands under a common leadership.
Bascand founded Harbour in 2009 along with other members of the AllianceBernstein NZ institutional funds management shop.
In May this year, the firm – which was almost 80 per cent owned by Jarden – was merged into the FirstCape group with the approximately $6 billion BNZ KiwiSaver and investment assets falling under its purview.
BNZ parent, National Australia Bank, has a 45 per cent stake in FirstCape via a NZ entity with private equity firm, Pacific Equity Partners, holding 35 per cent and Jarden 20 per cent.
As at July Harbour reported about $11.6 billion in assets.