Kaplan Professional appoints new head of business development for New Zealand

“Kaplan Professional (Kaplan) – a leading provider of financial planning, real estate, mortgage broking, insurance, and leadership education – and its partner Massey University have appointed Colleen La Touche as Kaplan’s head of business development for New Zealand, a newly created role.

La Touche has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years, taking on financial adviser support roles before becoming a financial adviser specialising in risk insurance (life, health, and disability). She also established Valour Financial Specialists, which she later sold in 2021.

Kaplan CEO Brian Knight said La Touche, who brings to Kaplan a wealth of experience and extensive network with many strong working relationships across the industry, will play a crucial role in opening a broad range of corporate opportunities in New Zealand.

Specifically, La Touche will be based in Kaplan’s Auckland office and support the launch of its continuing professional development (CPD) platform Ontrack and dedicated financial advice library that enables advisers to meet their professional development plan with in-depth and high-quality CPD content delivered through digital modules.

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Kaplan and Massey University announced their partnership in 2020, which included the release of the Certificate in Financial Advice (Certificate in Financial Services Level 5, Version 2) and subsequent growth in enrolments among New Zealand’s financial advice community.

Commenting on the latest appointment, Knight said: “With Massey University’s reputation and standing and Kaplan Professional’s financial services expertise, both organisations realised early on that we needed the right person that aligned with our goals and values to play an important role in helping advisers, corporates, and financial advice providers (FAPs) meet the new professional standards regime.”

La Touche said she was eager to start in her new role at Kaplan because she has always wanted to play a significant role in advancing the industry’s evolution and professionalism by helping advisers, corporates, and FAPs navigate the current changes and professional standards regime.

“I have always believed in the power of education and how important it is – both the technical aspect and practical application – in being a great adviser,” she said. “I am very passionate about the industry as a whole and know from personal experience the fundamental role an adviser plays in a client’s financial well-being when a curveball or life event arises.”