Invast Global Recruits Former Wallaby Rod Kafer as a Director

Multi-asset prime brokerage, Invast Global, has added former Rugby Australia coaching director Rod Kafer to its ranks as a Director of Prime Services, Finance Magnates has learned.

The move was made public via Kafer’s LinkedIn post, where he writes that he is: “Delighted to have had the opportunity to join a rapidly growing, innovative group at Invast Global, an alternative Prime Broker Prime Broker Prime brokers are the designation given to individuals handling a package of services offered by investment banks, wealth management firms, and securities dealers to hedge funds which need the ability to borrow securities and cash in order to be able to invest on a netted basis and achieve an absolute return.There are two types of prime brokers - bank and non-bank corporations. Traditionally major global investment banks have been the predominant players in the space, however recent years have p Prime brokers are the designation given to individuals handling a package of services offered by investment banks, wealth management firms, and securities dealers to hedge funds which need the ability to borrow securities and cash in order to be able to invest on a netted basis and achieve an absolute return.There are two types of prime brokers - bank and non-bank corporations. Traditionally major global investment banks have been the predominant players in the space, however recent years have p Read this Term. Its [sic] a great business, an even better team, destined for great things and I am looking forward to contributing.”

Kafer left his position at Rugby Australia in April of this year, before he made the move back to finance. His LinkedIn states that he joined the Australian broker in April of this year and is based in Sydney.

According to an interview he did with The Australian Financial Review, regarding his new position, he wasn’t “even contemplating it” until he had a meeting with the prime broker’s chief executive officer Gavin White.

Speaking to the news outlet, Kafer said: "We literally met for lunch, and he said 'if you want to do it, let's do it', and I said, 'I'll start in two weeks time'. It's those great moments in life where it's almost spur of the moment, let's do it, let's have a challenge," he said.

"I've loved my time in rugby, it's such a wonderful thing to be involved with. And I had a real specific role at Rugby Australia. And, at the end of it, I didn't actually feel like I could make too big a difference there ... it didn't provide me the opportunity that perhaps I thought it would."

Rod Kafer returns to finance

This is not Kafer’s first role in finance. In fact, before he became a professional rugby player, he worked as a proprietary trader. However, in his role with Invast Global, he will focus on selling the firm’s services into hedge funds.

"One of the great pieces of advice when I was finishing my career – and it stuck with me ever since – was 'don't let this sporting career be the highlight of your life, because you could end up being disappointed for the rest of your life, and never being able to achieve the highs of perhaps what you did'," Kafer told The Australian Financial Review.