The FPI Champions event held at the Allan Gray offices in Rosebank last night signalled a new dawn for the Financial Planning Institute. Leading industry figures came out in force to show their support for the FPI’s new direction.
The event – which was arranged by outgoing Financial Planner of the Year, Janet Hugo – was attended by twelve past Financial Planners of the Year, who gathered to show their support for the FPI’s new management team and direction. Attendees included Janet Hugo, Mark MacSymon, Barry O’Mahony, Peter Hewett, Warren Ingram, Wouter Fourie, Dulipkumar Garach, Gerrit Viljoen, Jan Carel Botha, John Campbell and Natasja Hart.
Hugo, who has been overwhelmed by the opportunities that have come her way in the past year, expressed her optimism for the institute’s future under the leadership of new CEO Lelané Bezuidenhout.
In thanking Hugo and all the other attendees for their support, Bezuidenhout described the event as a “celebration of excellence, professionalism and unity,” expressing her belief that “the financial planning community is stronger than ever before.” Bezuidenhout gave special thanks to Prem Govender for her unwavering support over the years, and to David Kop who has been appointed as executive director of Relevance looking after consumer education, advocacy, career development and other roles around awareness and recognition of the profession.
Kirsty Scully spoke for everyone present when she thanked Hugo “for organizing such a lovely event and for getting such a good group of people together.” Anton Swanepoel echoed her sentiments when he described showing his “support of the FPI team with this group of professionals” as “an absolute honour.”
All present agreed that the event was the ideal way to kick off both the FPI Convention (which takes place today and tomorrow) and a new era of unity and accountability for the FPI.
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