Investment pioneer Trish Donohue is leaving Cbus
Investment specialist Trish Donohue is leaving Cbus. Photo: Supplied
Cbus investment pioneer Trish Donohue is to leave the fund at the end of 2017 after a career with the group spanning nearly two decades.
Ms Donohue, who currently serves as Group Executive, Investment Services & Solutions, joined Cbus in January 2000 as the founding member of the investment team and has been a member of the Cbus Executive since 2004.
She was instrumental in developing and implementing the group’s investment strategy.
“In Trish’s 17 plus years of service she has been responsible for extraordinary fund growth and returns, has built a committed and high-performing investment team, and played a key role in developing the Fund’s vision and ambitious growth strategy,” said Cbus CEO David Atkin.
“Trish’s commitment and vision have had a very significant and positive impact on both Cbus and the retirement outcomes enjoyed by our members.”
Trish Donohue was a joint winner of the Chief Investment Officer of the Year trophy at this year’s Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards, together with Cbus’ Kristian Fok.
“The Cbus Board acknowledges Trish’s contribution to Cbus’ stellar investment track record – being a consistently high performing fund over both short and long term periods – and together with her fellow executives and colleagues wish her all the best for her future endeavours,” Mr Atkin said.
“I feel so privileged to have been part of Cbus’ amazing journey over the past 17 plus years and proud of what we have built for our members – I have every confidence that Cbus is well positioned to continue to be a strong performing fund of the future,” Ms Donohue said.
The structure of the investment team will be reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer over coming months.
Cbus has increasingly implemented a strategy to to invest in the building industry to help create jobs for its members while earning good returns for their superannuation. Ms Donahue was instrumental in developing this strategy.
In recent years the fund has built its exposure to the property sector, owning and developing buildings in major markets. It has also built a business lending to the commercial sector and has increasingly brought its investment management capacity in-house.
The fund, which services the building sector, has 750,000 members, covers 36,000 employers and has $40 billion in funds under management.
Ms Donahue is leaving to pursue other opportunities.