Countplus appoints former FPA chair as new CEO

Matthew Rowe has taken up the role after serving as a Countplus director since October 2016. Count Financial, which is owned by CBA, is the largest single shareholder of Countplus.

Mr Rowe was the FPA’s longest serving chairman, a statement said. He was also previously managing director of Adelaide-based Hood Sweeney, a Countplus member firm.

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Countplus chairman Barry Lambert said, “Countplus welcomes the known and capable skills of Matthew Rowe in taking on this leadership role for Countplus.

“The board endorses Matthew’s appointment as part of a revitalised approach to capturing greater growth upside on behalf of Countplus member firms, their clients and company shareholders.

“We expect Matthew to hit the ground running given his strong familiarity with the professional services sector, the Countplus business and its member firms. We look forward to Matthew applying the same leadership attributes he displayed in lifting the standards of all financial planners on behalf of Australian consumers as chairman of the Financial Planning Association.”

Mr Rowe replaces Phil Aris, who joined Countplus as chief executive and managing director in November 2014, Mr Lambert told ifa. 

“Phil has made a positive contribution to Countplus during his tenure. The Board has accepted Phil’s resignation, thanks him for his contribution, and wishes him well as he pursues other interests.

“We are pleased to have made a swift appointment in the high calibre executive, Mr Matthew Rowe, and we look forward to supporting Matthew and his team in his endeavours to take Countplus from strength to greater strength.”

Mr Rowe said his first priority as incoming chief executive is to speak with each principal of the Countplus member network.

“Many of those people are known personally to me. They are dedicated professionals, and I look forward to supporting each practice to exploit the latent opportunities of scale amid the ongoing convergence and partnerships between accounting and financial planning in Australia,” he said.

The appointment follows after Mark Rantall, former FPA chief executive, was appointed as independent chairman of Countplus-aligned dealer group, Total Financial Solutions.