The board of Financial Advice NZ has appointed Nick Hakes as its new CEO, replacing Katrina Shanks. Hakes’ first day will be Monday 26 February 2024.
Hakes is relocating from Singapore, where he has been the Director of Market Development Asia at Kaplan Professional. Prior to this, he was Member Services, Partnerships and Campus AFA, later renamed FAAA, in Sydney.
Hakes says: “As we look to the future to grow the demand for quality financial advice, I look forward to meeting, listening, and engaging with our members and the broader advice industry at our Thrive conference in March.”
Hakes has held Director and Chair positions on the board of Pro Bono Financial Advice Network, an industry-wide collaboration that connects financial advisers willing to provide pro bono financial advice with people facing personal health crisis.
He has also served as the Vice Chair on the International Certification & Standards Board, a standing committee of the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) that governs the professional certifications and education pathways of its professional adviser designations throughout the region.
“As a proud Kiwi, it is an honour to return to Aotearoa after more than two decades working with professional financial adviser associations across Asia Pacific, and to lead Financial Advice New Zealand in its next evolution of success,” says Hakes.
Tony Dench has been the organisation’s interim CEO following the departure of Shanks, who is now CEO at ANZIIF in Melbourne.
See our report: Interim CEO Appointed to Financial Advice NZ.