Wealthpoint appoints new head of investments

He has held senior leadership positions including Head of Global Equities at Investec Asset Management in London, Director at Newton Investment Management, and Founder of Salvus Asset Management in New Zealand. 

Most recently, he was Head of Research for an independent adviser group, where he led investment strategy, asset allocation, fund manager engagement, compliance, and adviser education — supporting over $800 million in funds under advice.

Couch also brings significant governance experience, having served on boards of both listed and private financial services firms.

He succeeds Keri Jenkins, who has played a pivotal role in building Wealthpoint’s investment proposition and establishing a strong position in the market and is leaving Wealthpoint to focus on her organics business.

Couch will lead the continued development and delivery of the firm’s investment strategy, including oversight of its Discretionary Investment Management Service (DIMS), support for adviser businesses, and Wealthpoint’s investment governance and compliance frameworks. His focus will be on delivering institutional-grade capability tailored to the needs of independent advisers and their clients.

Wealthpoint’s investment business has grown strongly in recent years, now managing over $3.5 billion in funds under advice across the network. This includes more than $1.7 billion in KiwiSaver funds, over $1 billion in funds on platform, and a rapidly expanding DIMS offering. The business has also seen record levels of adviser engagement, an expanding investment menu, and strong uptake of support services — all reinforcing Wealthpoint’s position as a leading and growing force in the financial advice sector.

Wealthpoint chief executive Simon Manning said, “We had strong interest in the Head of Investments role from a number of highly experienced candidates. Andrew stood out for his global expertise, his commitment to independent advice, and his proven ability to build high-performing investment functions. We’re excited to have him on board.”

With a strong focus on supporting members to run successful and trusted financial advice businesses, Wealthpoint is one of NZ’s largest networks of independent financial advisers.