Mine Super has appointed Seamus Collins to the role of CIO following David Bell’s departure in December 2018.

Collins’ appointment is effective next Monday, April 1.

The hire comes after Collins successfully took on the acting CIO role after Bell resigned from the $11 billion industry superannuation fund to finish a doctorate degree in investment management.

Collins joined the fund as head of portfolio implementation in November 2017 after more than a decade with JP Morgan Chase Bank in the superannuation segments.

Prior to that, he had a number of senior management roles with the Australian Securities Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange.

Mine Super said the appointment to CIO solidifies Collins’ already strong performance in guiding the investment strategy for the fund and recognises the significant experience he brings to the fund and its members.

Commenting on his appointment, Collins said the superannuation fund took the view that there were many elements to the role in terms of leadership, governance stakeholder communication, people management, team oversight and implementation oversight.

He is conscious that compared to someone coming from pure portfolio management, his background is slightly different but he says there is now a broader recognition that a CIO role is about leadership.

“We have a number of staff with strong traditional asset management backgrounds in our investment research and quant group,” he said.

A self-proclaimed pragmatist who has predominantly worked on the investment implementation side, Collins said he has an enormous depth of knowledge about the full investment chain.

“Some funds are looking to drive a very sophisticated highly technical investment process and are looking for a specialist to drive that outcome.”

Of the appointment, he said “I am extremely honored to be given this opportunity to oversee the investment outcomes for the members of Mine Super. Joining the leadership team of a fund with such a deep connection to its members is a great responsibility and I look forward to building upon these strong foundations.”