Australia's Telstra Super names new CIO

After a four-month search, the largest corporate superannuation fund in Australia has appointed Graeme Miller as its new chief investment officer. 

Miller joins Telstra Super from global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson, where he was a director of investment services since 2007. There, he led the Australian investment team and was the principal investment advisor for major superannuation funds. 

Prior to Willis Towers Watson, he was a principal at Mercer, as well as deputy chair of the Investment Management Consultants Association Australia. 

“Miller's depth of knowledge across multiple asset classes and exceptional strategic capability will reinforce our existing high performing team and is central to our success and the success of our members. We could not be more excited with this appointment,” said Chris Davies, Telstra Super chief executive. 

Miller will assume the new role in May. Willis Towers Watson said it will consider not only its pool of internal leaders, but also external candidates to find Miller’s replacement. 

Two Telstra executives were also among the candidates for the job, namely John Eliopoulos, head of Australian equities, and Kate Misic, head of alternatives investments, according to reports. 

Former Telstra Super chief investment officer Jam Christensen returned in January to Queensland Investment Corporation, where he headed the active management division for 12 years. 

With A$17 billion ($13 billion; €11 billion) under management, Telstra Super invests with a range of external specialist investment portfolio managers. In infrastructure, it works with Hastings Funds Management, JPMorgan Investment Management, RARE Infrastructure and Whitehelm Capital. 

With its internal investment team, the Melbourne-based fund has a A$1.5 billion property and infrastructure portfolio, which is currently managed by Tim Stringer, former head of property at Frontier Advisers.