Since our last media release on 25 January announcing that Yasser El-Ansary will step down as Chief Executive of the Australian Investment Council, the Board has continued to work on a strategy for the transition to a new Chief Executive. International search firm, Heidrick and Struggles has been appointed by the Board to lead the search process and it is anticipated that a suitable candidate will be appointed in the coming months.
We are pleased to report that Jonathan Kelly will be joining the Council on Wednesday 23 March and step into the role of Interim CEO from Tuesday 26 April, working closely with Yasser until his departure in April and until a new Chief Executive has been appointed. Jonathan has more than 20 years’ experience in private capital including as a former Board member of the Australian Investment Council and a co-founder of Odyssey Private Equity.
25 January, 2022
SYDNEY: Yasser El-Ansary, Chief Executive of the Australian Investment
Council, has decided to leave the organisation to take-on a new role within
the financial services industry in coming months. Mr El-Ansary has held the
position of Chief Executive for the past eight years.
Alicia Gregory, Chairperson of the Council, said: “Yasser has done a
terrific job as our Chief Executive. He has been instrumental in designing
and implementing front-line industry leadership positions on a wide range
of important policy and regulatory issues such as the foreign investment
regime; RG97 and the ‘Your Future, Your Super’ reforms; tax
reforms, and the introduction of the National Innovation and Science
Agenda.
“Australia’s private capital industry is a critically important part of the
national economy because it’s responsible for catalysing investment into
businesses that will create new industries and new jobs of the future.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Yasser for his valuable
contribution to the Council. We wish him well in his new role.”
Yasser El-Ansary, the Council’s Chief Executive, said: “I’m really proud of
what we have been able to achieve in the eight years that I have been
fortunate to lead the Council. Our industry is a powerhouse of the economy
– the significant rise in funds under management and invested capital we’ve
seen over the past few years is testament to the growth of our sector and
the significant contribution that it makes.”
“Now is the right time for me to step-aside and enable a new leader to help
write the script for how Australia’s private capital investment industry
can make an even bigger contribution to the economy and our community in
the years ahead,” Mr El-Ansary said.
The Council’s Board has commenced a search process to identify the next
Chief Executive to lead the Australian Investment Council. Mr El-Ansary
will remain with the organisation for the next few months in order to
ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Robyn Tolhurst, Public Affairs Manager
M: 0436 388 919
About Yasser El-Ansary CA
Mr El-Ansary commenced as Chief Executive in November 2013, joining the
organisation with an extensive background in financial services and
consulting, alongside a track record of policy development and advocacy
within both the private and public sectors. Mr El-Ansary has played a
leadership role in re-shaping the strategic direction of the Council, and
the broader private capital investment industry that it represents, towards
being a more visible and prominent driver of economic activity and new job
creation across Australia.
Prior to joining the Australian Investment Council, Mr El-Ansary spent
almost five years with Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia as
General Manager of Policy, and prior to that held senior advisory positions
with PwC and the Federal Department of the Treasury. He is a Chartered
Accountant with tertiary qualifications in Commerce and Finance, as well as
Taxation Law.
About the Australian Investment Council
The Australian Investment Council is the voice of private capital in
Australia. Private capital investment has played a central role in the
growth and expansion of thousands of businesses, which when combined
represents a multi-billion-dollar contribution to the Australian economy.
Our members are the standard-bearers of professional investment and
include: private equity, venture capital and private credit funds,
alongside institutional investors such as superannuation and sovereign
wealth funds, as well as leading financial, legal and operational advisers. www.aic.co
www.twitter.com/Ai_council