Ben Willard

Ben Willard Email and Phone Number

Senior Executive ♦ General Manager ♦ Whole-of-Business Oversight ♦ Strategic Leader ♦ Change Agent ♦ Customer-Focused ♦ Large Team Leadership ♦ Financial Advice & Wealth Management @ Certe
Ben Willard's Location
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australia
Ben Willard's Contact Details

Ben Willard personal email

n/a
About Ben Willard

With over two decades of executive leadership success, I'm passionate about driving growth, navigating complexity, and delivering unparalleled results. My track record speaks volumes: I've excelled in providing strategic guidance, fostering collaboration, driving significant and transformative change, and generating actionable insights to propel organisations forward.AREAS OF EXPERTISE & SUCCESS:✦ Executive leadership: extensive experience overseeing entire business units and leading large and diverse teams, I have consistently fuelled growth and innovation across multiple domains.✦ Strategic Advisor: known for my ability to set and execute company strategies, while providing invaluable insights to executives and steering organisations through complex challenges.✦ Stakeholder Engagement: I thrive on building meaningful relationships and driving stakeholder engagement at all levels, earning trust and credibility through a relentless focus on service excellence.✦ Change Management: whether it's orchestrating large-scale restructures, facilitating business transformations, and leading the integration of new businesses, I excel in navigating change and maximising operational efficiency.✦ Large Team Leadership: building, training, coaching and mentoring - includes those located in disparate locations (rural and metropolitan) all over Australia fostering an inclusive, trustworthy and highly engaged environment to help people reach their full potential. ✦ Industry Specialist: a deep understanding of financial services, financial planning, superannuation, and risk management.✦ Mergers & Acquisitions: leadership of several successful mergers & acquisitions with a best-of-both approach integrating all aspects of people, technology, business processes, systems, and business rules.✦ Business Development: B2B and B2C environments with accountability for achieving targets and new business goals. ✦ Innovative Communicator: ability to simplify complexity, clarify ambiguity, and deliver impactful presentations to diverse audiences.✦ Customer-Centricity: dedicated to revolutionising the customer experience, driving innovation, and ensuring high-quality engagement at every touchpoint.✦ Analytical thinking: exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, I leverage data insights to inform decision-making and drive business success.

Ben Willard's Current Company Details
Certe

Certe

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Senior Executive ♦ General Manager ♦ Whole-of-Business Oversight ♦ Strategic Leader ♦ Change Agent ♦ Customer-Focused ♦ Large Team Leadership ♦ Financial Advice & Wealth Management
Ben Willard Work Experience Details
  • Certe
    Chief Operating Officer
    Certe Nov 2024 - Present
    Sydney, New South Wales, Au
    This role encompasses oversight and leadership over all of Certe’s operations and service delivery to our growing client base. I am in the privileged position of leading a dynamic and innovative team that deliver a high quality offering in employee benefits, group risk, retail insurance, comprehensive financial planning, strategy, modelling and investment advice to the professional services industry. Certe has a proud track record of delivering on our service promise to this segment and my role is to ensure this continues to evolve and improve each and every single day. We have an awesome team (the best in the business) who are dedicated to helping people through life’s great adventures, decisions and risks and we always act with genuine care in a true partnership approach to help people from wealth protection through to prosperity.
  • Certe
    Head Of Private Clients
    Certe Jun 2024 - Nov 2024
    Sydney, New South Wales, Au
    I lead a team of qualified and dedicated professionals that serve our clients through wealth protection to prosperity. Certe is a specialised financial advisory group focused on partnering with professionals to deliver the best possible outcomes through life’s great adventures, decisions and risks. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do and we deliver tailored and innovative solutions to simplify and improve their lives. Reporting to the CEO, this role is responsible for all aspects of advice delivery and client engagement for Certe's growing number of private clients. Check out our website https://www.certe.com.au
  • Mercer Australia
    Director Of Financial Advice
    Mercer Australia Jun 2022 - Jul 2023
    Melbourne, Vic, Au
    In this role, I reported to the Chief Operating Officer of Superannuation Services and the MFA Board, responsible for strategy development, business transformation, performance, service delivery, governance and oversight of Mercer's Financial Advice and client service business. Role included:► Strategic planning and execution► Large team leadership and performance management► Delivery of omnichannel (F2F, digital, phone) advice services (mainly retirement segment)► Service delivery standards – setting and ensuring consistent achievement► Governance and oversight of advice and client service businessHighlights:● Leading a major business restructure to reduce overheads and achieve net operating incomeIntroducing new technology (advice software) to the Intrafund team with call listening for best practice approaches and continuous improvement● Driving significant improvements to process efficiencies, call wait and call handling times
  • Aware Super
    Head Of Phone And Virtual Advice (Seconded To Retirement Product And Solutions)
    Aware Super Oct 2019 - May 2022
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    In this role, I reported to the Group Executive of Advice with responsibility for retirement advice, business strategy, large team leadership, adviser engagement, service standards, and P&L.Role included:► Strategic planning and execution► Large team leadership► Adviser engagement► Service delivery standards – setting and ensuring consistent achievement► P&L management► Policy review and design to meet regulatory guidelines, risk tolerance, and business operating model Highlights:● Leading a significant business transformation to increase client access to advice and ancillary member services through new technology, a digital-first approach, and face-to-face (F2F) solutions● Transforming the business from a geographically spread F2F business to a centralised business delivering services via phone, webchat, and other online tools● Designing and leading implementation of new product and service offerings for pre-retirees and retirees, and introducing a new service (Estate Planning and Insurance)● Business process improvements that helped reduce wait times, remove friction points for members, significantly improve adviser engagement, and made Aware Super simpler to do business with● Improving compliance standards (measured by audit results) by almost one third with better onboarding, adviser training and tailored adviser plans● Leading a successful merger and integrating people, technology, business processes, systems, and business rules etc.
  • Stateplus
    Head Of Financial Planning
    Stateplus Nov 2017 - Oct 2019
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    In this role, I led the provision of professional financial planning services and products, including advice, superannuation, managed investments and retirement income streams across over 400 staff serving > 50k clients. Role included:► Business unit accountability / whole of business ownership and leadership► Large team leadership► Management of regional offices across Australia (metropolitan and rural)► P&L accountability► Adviser engagement► Board reporting► Business strategy – planning and execution► Policy review and development► Business unit service standards► Ensured KPIs, revenue, and expense targets were achievedHighlights:● Initiating and leading several major business change projects to achieve whole-of-business transformation aligned with company strategy● Leading a merger project (people, technology, business processes, systems, and business rules) to achieve BoB - Best of Both – bringing together two businesses to become Australia's largest superannuation fund advice distribution team
  • Stateplus
    Regional Head
    Stateplus Oct 2014 - Nov 2017
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    In this role, I provided corporate leadership, direction, support and guidance to a regional division with approximately 100 Regional Managers, Financial Planners, and Client Service Officers distributed across NSW.Role included:► Business unit ownership and leadership► Large team leadership► P&L accountability► Adviser engagement► Ensured regional KPIs, revenue, and expense targets were achieved► Risk management► Author of client communications► Business process improvement► Quality assuranceHighlights:● Developing and implementing the Financial Planning Strategy in line with StatePlus business goals● Initiating, developing and leading quick win projects to improve performance, efficiencies, and customer service● Advice Lead on the sale of StatePlus to First State Super for >A$1b
  • Stateplus
    Operations Manager
    Stateplus Oct 2011 - Oct 2014
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    In this role, I oversaw the delivery of financial advice to current and former public sector employees. I managed a regional division with accountability for the P&L, team leadership, coaching and mentoring for approximately 90 financial planning staff across Western Sydney, Newcastle, and the ACT.Role included:► Whole of business ownership and leadership► Large team leadership► P&L accountability► Adviser engagement► Ensuring regional division service standards met► Development and implementation of business strategy, risk and compliance► Project managementHighlights:● Leading a major business change and transformation project to prepare for the Future of Financial Advice reforms● Doubling the product offerings and significantly improving service standards● Leading substantial organisational change in support of FOFA compliance
  • Stateplus
    Regional Manager
    Stateplus Aug 2006 - Oct 2011
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    I was responsible for managing teams across our Tamworth, Canberra, and Parramatta offices. This meant working closely with client-facing staff and senior management.
  • Stateplus
    Financial Planner
    Stateplus Apr 2001 - Aug 2006
    Sydney, Nsw, Au
    My main responsibilities were delivering holistic financial advice to current and former members of the public service and their families. I found learning from highly skilled professionals, and managing a diverse client base, a fantastic entry into the world of financial advice.

Ben Willard Skills

Retirement Planning Financial Planning Management Incentive Programs Operations Management Leading Change Coaching Strategy Stakeholder Management Financial Services Business Development Strategic Planning Team Leadership Change Management Executive Management Finance Investment Strategies Investments Pensions Portfolio Management Team Building Wealth Management Relationship Management Business Relationship Management Pension Funds

Ben Willard Education Details

  • Fasea (Financial Adviser Standards And Ethics Authority)
    Fasea (Financial Adviser Standards And Ethics Authority)
    Exam Passed
  • Deakin University
    Deakin University
    Financial Planning And Services
  • Deakin University
    Deakin University
    Financial Planning
  • Western Sydney University
    Western Sydney University
    Management

Frequently Asked Questions about Ben Willard

What company does Ben Willard work for?

Ben Willard works for Certe

What is Ben Willard's role at the current company?

Ben Willard's current role is Senior Executive ♦ General Manager ♦ Whole-of-Business Oversight ♦ Strategic Leader ♦ Change Agent ♦ Customer-Focused ♦ Large Team Leadership ♦ Financial Advice & Wealth Management.

What is Ben Willard's email address?

Ben Willard's email address is be****@****.com.au

What schools did Ben Willard attend?

Ben Willard attended Fasea (Financial Adviser Standards And Ethics Authority), Deakin University, Deakin University, Western Sydney University.

What skills is Ben Willard known for?

Ben Willard has skills like Retirement Planning, Financial Planning, Management, Incentive Programs, Operations Management, Leading Change, Coaching, Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Financial Services, Business Development, Strategic Planning.

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