Countplus names Matthew Rowe to lead revitalised growth strategy

Countplus today announces the appointment of Mr Matthew Rowe as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective immediately.
Mr Rowe brings a track record of leading high-performing professional services firms, including as the former long-serving managing director of Adelaide-based Hood Sweeney, a Countplus member firm, Australia’s 30th largest accounting firm and a twice-listed BRW fast growth business.
Mr Rowe is the former Chairman of the Financial Planning Association of Australia, its longest serving chairman. He was appointed a Director of Countplus in October, 2016.
“Countplus welcomes the known and capable skills of Matthew Rowe in taking on this leadership role for Countplus,” said Chairman Barry Lambert.
“The Board endorses Matthew’s appointment as part of a revitalised approach to capturing greater growth upside on behalf of Countplus member firms, their clients and company shareholders.
“We expect Matthew to hit the ground running given his strong familiarity with the professional services sector, the Countplus business and its member firms. We look forward to Matthew applying the same leadership attributes he displayed in lifting the standards of all financial planners on behalf of Australian consumers as Chairman of the Financial Planning Association,” Mr Lambert said.
Mr Rowe said his first priority as incoming chief executive is to speak with each principal of the Countplus member network.
“Many of those people are known personally to me. They are dedicated professionals, and I look
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 24 February 2017
Media Release – CUP 1 24 February 2017
forward to supporting each practice to exploit the latent opportunities of scale amid the ongoing convergence and partnerships between accounting and financial planning in Australia,” he said.
Mr Rowe holds a Bachelor of Economics, is a Fellow of CPA Australia, a Certified Financial Planner (Life) and completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program.

SOURCE: Countplus