Ignition Advice plots global expansion with new operating chief

Ignition Advice has welcomed a chief operating officer, with a slew of senior appointments expected to follow over the coming months to steer the firm's expansion strategies.

Stuart Hamilton has joined the digital advice solutions business as chief operating officer to lead its global operations and client delivery as it expands its client base across Australia, the UK and Europe. He is based in Sydney and reports to managing director and chief executive officer Terry Donohoe, who is based in Dublin.

Hamilton has more than 25 years' experience in technology, consulting and enterprise transformation. He spent over a decade at Salesforce in senior leadership roles across Asia Pacific, including regional vice president of professional services and senior director of advisory services, where he led large-scale transformation programs for Australian organisations, Ignition said.

He also held technology and consulting roles across prominent Australian institutions, including AMP, Macquarie Group, and more recently, Ingenuity Partners as chief executive for two years.

Commenting, Donohoe noted the appointment follows heightened demand for enterprise digital advice, led by interest from Australia's superannuation sector.

"Stuart's appointment strengthens our growing executive team as we pursue our global expansion and marks the beginning of Ignition's next phase of growth," Donohoe said.

"Closing the advice gap is a global challenge, and delivering well for our partners is central to how we help meet it. Stuart's experience helping leading institutions achieve their most ambitious goals will be a significant asset to Ignition and the partners we serve."

Meanwhile, Hamilton said: "What drew me to Ignition is a leadership team that really understands what institutions and their customers need from advice and has built the technology to match."

"Digital advice, with the right guardrails, is the only way to deliver trusted advice at the scale people need to improve their financial wellbeing. Ignition is already doing this inside some of the world's largest financial institutions.

"That's exactly the work I want to be part of, and it's an exciting time to join the team and help take it further."