Superannuation Trust of Australia (STA) and the Australian Retirement Fund (ARF) are looking for the first positions created as a result of their proposed merger – senior manager listed markets and senior manager operations.

“They are a combination of new functions and previous roles,” Ian Silk, ARF chief executive and chief executive officer of the merged fund, said The equities position is partially a result of the decision by Elana Rubin, executive director investments, to become deputy chairperson of the new fund. The newly-merged $20 billion fund is expected to be operating from July 1, 2006. The senior manager listed markets will report to Mark Delany, who will become deputy chief executive and chief investment office, of the merged entity. Key duties of the new position will include identifying new investment opportunities, strategy development, risk management and managing advisory relationships. The senior manager operations will be responsible for a small team managing operational aspects of the merged portfolio. “Much of the recruiting that these funds have done in recent times has been done with the view of the person operating in the merged entity but it’s probably the first positions for the new fund,” Silk said.