23 June 2020.

U Ethical Investors Director - Distribution David Brennan has been awarded Australian Financial Review (AFR) BOSS Magazine’s Young Executive of the Year award.

In conjunction with human resources consulting firm Development Dimensions International (DDI), AFR BOSS Magazine’s annual accolade recognises outstanding young executives who demonstrate leadership in the community as well as in business, and who have a strong track record in people and thought leadership.

Adhering to stringent criteria, every year just six Australians are honoured with the award joining a growing network of emerging and influential leaders.

Brennan attributes his recent successes at ethical investment house U Ethical, to having strong mentors and a resilient and energetic team.

“When you work with an amazing team dedicated to the purpose of improving the community through better investments and add the challenges of wholesale investment management, effectiveness and impact is what you strive for every day,” he said.

“I want our investors to do well, because doing well in this company doesn’t just mean happy clients, it enables our business to continue creating real value, in many ways, not just financial.”

Brennan is also a recent graduate from the Senior Executive MBA (SEMBA) program at Melbourne Business School (MBS) and credits the program as pivotal to synthesising all elements of his skills and experience. Prof Ian Harper AO, Dean of MBS, congratulated David on his achievement, and Prof Vivek Chaudhri, MBS Academic Director of Executive MBA programs, who taught David during his SEMBA was delighted to see him publicly recognised.

“David was an integral member of the SEMBA cohort in 2018, coupling analytical and managerial capability with a personable, fun-loving and inquisitive nature. Those characteristics served him very well on the SEMBA program and I’m sure will be instrumental in his continued professional success,” Prof Chaudhri said.

Brennan’s dynamic role involves overseeing the distribution function and he is responsible for growth of funds under management, client service, relationship management as well as marketing and communications.

U Ethical Investors Chief Executive Officer Mathew Browning celebrates Brennan’s achievement saying “We are thrilled to see Dave recognised by a group of eminent judges against the highest calibre competition. It is apt testament to his enormous contribution to U Ethical over the last two years. At the virtual awards ceremony, the judges acknowledged Dave’s strategic mindset and influence beyond his day job, especially in the healthcare sector, as well as his commitment to ethics,” he said.

Browning went on to say “2020 has been challenging for all investment managers to say the least, and I’m constantly thankful to have Dave on the team bringing his passion and humility to our purpose.”