Key Takeaways
- • AustralianSuper named Shaun Manuell, who has led its Australian equities team for 13 years, as its new chief investment officer, effective July 1, following an extensive global search, according to CEO Paul Schroder.
- • Manuell's internally managed Australian equities portfolio grew to A$100 billion (US$71.4 billion) from A$1 billion (US$714 million) under his leadership.
- • The fund's Australian Shares investment option has delivered 2.6% annual outperformance versus ASX benchmarks since 2013, equating to $8 billion of additional value, per Schroder.
- • Luke Smith and Andrew Smith will jointly lead the Australian Equities team on an interim basis until a permanent hire is made.
- • The appointment follows the December 2025 departure of former CIO Mark Delaney after 25 years at the fund, which managed more than A$410 billion for 3.6 million members at end-2025.
Summary
AustralianSuper has promoted Shaun Manuell to chief investment officer, effective July 1, filling the role left vacant when Mark Delaney departed in December 2025 after 25 years with the fund. CEO Paul Schroder said the appointment followed an extensive global search and described Manuell as an outstanding investor at scale with a considered approach to representing members' interests. According to the announcement, Manuell has led the fund's Australian equities team for 13 years, during which internally managed equities grew to A$100 billion (US$71.4 billion) from A$1 billion (US$714 million).
Schroder said the fund's Australian Shares investment option, underpinned by the internally managed Australian equities portfolio, has delivered 2.6% of annual outperformance since 2013 against ASX benchmarks, equating to $8 billion of additional value. Manuell's prior roles include positions at wealth manager JBWere and financial and fiduciary services firm Equity Trustees before he joined AustralianSuper.
Manuell said he felt humbled and excited by the appointment, describing Australia's largest active investor as able to unlock exceptional opportunities for members and the nation. Pending a permanent hire, Senior Portfolio Managers Luke Smith and Andrew Smith will jointly lead the Australian Equities team on an interim basis once Manuell moves into the CIO role.
AustralianSuper managed more than A$410 billion in members' retirement savings for 3.6 million members as of the end of 2025, according to the article, which originally appeared in Financial Standard, a sister publication owned by ISS STOXX.
Schroder said the fund's Australian Shares investment option, underpinned by the internally managed Australian equities portfolio, has delivered 2.6% of annual outperformance since 2013 against ASX benchmarks, equating to $8 billion of additional value. Manuell's prior roles include positions at wealth manager JBWere and financial and fiduciary services firm Equity Trustees before he joined AustralianSuper.
Manuell said he felt humbled and excited by the appointment, describing Australia's largest active investor as able to unlock exceptional opportunities for members and the nation. Pending a permanent hire, Senior Portfolio Managers Luke Smith and Andrew Smith will jointly lead the Australian Equities team on an interim basis once Manuell moves into the CIO role.
AustralianSuper managed more than A$410 billion in members' retirement savings for 3.6 million members as of the end of 2025, according to the article, which originally appeared in Financial Standard, a sister publication owned by ISS STOXX.
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