Jeremy Edmonds, business development manager with Colonial First State Global Asset Management (CFS GAM), has departed the business amid a range of personnel changes at the manager and affiliated retail distributor Colonial First State (CFS).

Edmonds, who was chief executive officer of Qantas Super before joining CFS GAM, left the manager in early September and is two months and counting into a break from the industry as he considers opportunities to return – with either a funds management business or superannuation fund.

“If there’s something available on the funds management side, that’s great, or on the super fund side, that’s of interest as well,” Edmonds said.

He has been replaced by Peter Weldon, a former senior institutional account manager with CFS GAM, who is now head of internal client relationships.

Edmonds joined the manager in March 2007, and is understood to have been offered the head of internal relationships role, which focuses on managing business with clients such as Colonial First State, prior to his departure.

Meantime, CFS GAM has also recruited Tracey McNaughton, previously with equities manager Baillie Gifford, as manager of consultant relationships, responsible for the review and ratings processes for fixed interest, credit and cash products. She will report to Matt Russell, head of business development and consultant relationships.

These appointments occurred as CFS lured Marianne Perkovic, the chief executive of financial planning dealer group Count Financial, to its ranks as general manager of distribution.

The appointment brings Perkovic’s 11-year tenure at Count to a close. At CFS, she will be responsible for selling the business’ range of investment platforms and products to the Australian retail market. She starts in January 2010.