AZ NGA appoints chief people and tech officers

AZ NGA has made two senior executive appointments with the aim of building an integrated firm, supported by centralised services and operations.

The advice platform has appointed Tanya Dawson as its chief people officer and Shaun Nesbitt as the chief technology officer.

Dawson joined AZ NGA in November 2025 as acting chief people officer and has previously held the role of chief people officer at ClearView, Cuscal Payments and Zurich Cover-More.

Nesbitt joins AZ NGA after serving as the chief information and digital officer at Vital Business Partners and Urban Utilities.

In his role, Nesbitt is responsible for driving AZ NGA's ongoing digital transformation, spanning advice systems, data analytics and AI, and cyber security.

Additionally, it has also appointed Cormac Galvin, former head of finance and treasury at Cuscal Payments, as general manager of finance and transformation, reporting to AZ NGA chief financial officer.

"AZ NGA is an ambitious, fast-growing business and we are investing heavily in our people and teams to ensure that we have the right skills and expertise to deliver significant benefits, achieve our objectives and targets, and continue growing and scaling," AZ NGA Group chief executive Paul Barret said.

"Backed by a supportive board, we have the plan, the funding and the people to execute our strategy and this is an exciting time for the business."

Former Diverger general manager of technology and operations Sonya Choi La Rosa has also been appointed as the head of business improvement.

Choi La Rosa will be responsible for building the group's advice model office, incorporating best practice processes, common technology and integrated change capability, with a focus on experience and delivery.

AZ NGA has appointed former head of managed accounts and alternatives at MLC Neil Gellett as the head of product. Gellett will develop AZ NGA's product strategy, establish product governance and oversight framework, and strengthen relationships with key investment, life insurance and platform partners.

Nesbitt, Choi La Rosa and Gellett will all report to Nathan Jacobsen, AZ NGA's recently appointed chief operating officer. All three roles are newly created positions.

Jacobsen said the group is focused on establishing the right foundations to support AZ NGA's rapidly expanding network of accounting and advisory businesses to deliver quality advice at scale. This involves consolidating systems, processes and service providers to maximise operational and cost efficiencies, he said.

"We are looking to leverage our scale to deliver improved outcomes, not only in terms of the bottom line, but risk controls and client experience," Jacobsen said.

"Many of the areas that my team is focused on are not central to an adviser's value proposition, they are back-office activities and functions, but they are critical in driving performance and underpinning long-term growth."