Former Platinum CEO appointed to new leadership post

Jeff Peters will take over as chief executive of Apostle Funds Management this August, succeeding Mitchell Gunman who left the firm in January 2026.

New leadership amid recent partnerships

Peters joins Apostle after a brief stint as chief executive and managing director of Platinum Asset Management, a role he held from December 2023 until the firm merged with L1 Capital last October. At the time of the merger, Julian Russell assumed leadership of the combined entity.

Before his tenure at Platinum, he occupied senior positions at Columbia Threadneedle and Putnam Investments in the United States, and he also led the asset‑management practice at McKinsey & Co.

Apostle’s recent moves include a partnership with US quant fund manager Qtron, following an earlier alliance with US investment manager CastleKnight in June 2025. The board expects his US experience to complement these collaborations.

As CEO, Peters will oversee day‑to‑day operations, work closely with the board, clients and investment partners, and pursue the firm’s long‑term strategy.

The appointment is intended to strengthen organisational capability and advance Apostle’s investment offering.

Executive comments on the transition

Executive chair Karyn West said, “Apostle has continued to strengthen its investment offering through new investment partnerships and Jeff’s appointment builds on that momentum, reflecting our commitment to ensuring the business has the leadership breadth and experience to support its long‑term strategy.” She added that Peters “brings an exceptional depth of global asset management experience, having successfully led investment organisations through periods of growth and industry change.”

Peters responded, “Apostle has built a strong reputation for identifying high‑quality global investment partners and delivering differentiated investment solutions to institutional and wholesale investors across Australia and New Zealand.” He noted that evolving investor needs position Apostle well to connect clients with specialist global capabilities through a disciplined, partnership‑led approach.

He also said he looks forward to working alongside West, the board and the broader team to “build on those strengths, deepen relationships with our clients and investment partners, and continue delivering long‑term value.”

The firm, founded in 2008, currently manages $6.7 billion across its own fund range and eight partner funds covering property equity, credit, equities, venture capital and infrastructure.

The market’s reaction will depend on execution.

While the appointment aligns with Apostle’s recent expansion activities, the broader impact on the firm’s competitive positioning remains to be seen. If he can translate prior experience into tangible growth, Apostle may solidify its role among Australia’s mid‑size managers, but client retention and execution will shape outcomes over the coming months.