First Super appoints new chief executive

First Super has appointed a new chief executive who was part of LUCRF Super's leadership team for 18 years.

Tim Kennedy will commence in the new role on October 5.

He recently served as the national secretary of the United Workers Union (UWU), which represents 150,000 workers from across from more than 45 industries, working in sectors such as health, aged care, early education, security, manufacturing and hospitality.

Kennedy also led the National Union of Workers, which merged with United Voice to create the United Workers Union in November 2019.

Kennedy is the former chair and deputy chair, as well as director of LUCRF Super and served in those roles between 2004 and 2022. He served on the investment committee for over a decade and chaired the audit and risk committee.

LUCRF Super officially merged into AustralianSuper in June 2022. LUCRF Super had $7.25 billion in funds under management and about 130,000 members.

Kennedy steps into the role currently filled in the interim by Greg Everett, following the resignation of chief executive Bill Watson in early January.

Watson resigned from the post after about 13 years, having joined from business advisory firm Evans & Peck. Watson joined BUSSQ as chief investment officer in April.

Greg Everett became the acting chief executive in March, having served as deputy chief executive.

Everett joined First Super as deputy chief executive in November, bringing with him more than 20 years of superannuation experience, including as chief executive of the Superannuation Trustee Office for Guild Group, an executive of ESSSuper and the head of financial planning at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

First Super's co-chair Denise Campbell-Burns welcomed the appointment of Kennedy, saying his decades long involvement in superannuation and strong focus on member's best interest was a very good fit for First Super.

"Tim Kennedy is an acknowledged and outstanding leader in the superannuation sector and very much aligned with our funds total focus on superior service delivery and sustained strong returns to members," Campbell-Burns said.

On July 1, Michael McQueen stepped into the role of head of investments, a position that has been filled in the interim by Chris Artis, following the resignation of Watson.

The industry fund has strong links to the timber, paper and pulp and furniture and joinery industries.

Currently, it has nearly 80,000 members and more than $6 billion in assets under management.