AZ NGA appoints Nathan Jacobsen as COO

AZ NGA has appointed veteran licensee head Nathan Jacobsen as chief operating officer as the group looks to expand its senior leadership team and M&A prospects.

Jacobsen will report to group CEO Paul Barrett and oversee the delivery of the group’s proposition to accounting and advice firms.

The firm said Jacobsen will have responsibility for driving business transformation initiatives, including technology and integration, and building the systems and infrastructure to support AZ NGA’s growth.

Jacobsen is currently chief executive of AZ NGA-backed outsourcing specialist Vital Business Partners and will remain in that role after the group appointment.

He was previously managing director of ASX-listed licensee Diverger, departing the role after the firm’s acquisition by Count.

Jacobsen joined VBP in 2024, two years after AZ NGA acquired a majority stake in the firm which was founded in 2013 by David Carney and David Deegan.

He has also been managing director of Paragem and a general manager at Perpetual Private.

Barrett said after an extensive and competitive search, Jacobsen stood out as the ideal candidate to join AZ NGA’s leadership team at this critical stage in the advice platform’s journey.

“Under Nathan’s leadership, VBP has achieved significant operational and cost efficiencies, boosted staff and client satisfaction, and successfully launched new services,” Barrett said in a media statement.

“VBP is in a strong position to continue growing and meeting the outsourcing needs of advisory businesses.”

AZ NGA has seen exponential growth over the past few years which has culminated in the acquisition of AMP’s advice practice equity portfolio – consisting of 16 practices – for $82.2 million as AMP divests from advice.

The firm was backed early by Italian fund manager Azimut and has since seen a $240 million private equity injection from US alternatives investor Oaktree Capital.

Barrett recently detailed to the Professional Planner Shape of Advice podcast how the different capital parts affect the direction of the group.

Jacobsen will join an executive team that features Barrett and his co-founder Paul Brain, executive general manager Chesne Stafford, group chief financial officer Jodie Blackledge and head of M&A Yasemin Onat.