Andrew Pridham
Andrew Pridham | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 24, 1966 Adelaide, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, sports administrator |
| Known for | Co-founder and Group Vice Chairman of MA Financial Group; Chairman of the Sydney Swans AFL club |
Andrew Pridham AO (born 24 August 1966) is a prominent Australian investment banker, Co-founder and Group Vice Chairman of MA Financial Group, as well as the Chairman of the Sydney Swans AFL club.
Career
Hailing from Adelaide, Pridham completed his education at Rostrevor College. He was appointed Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking for Australasia at UBS at the age of 28. Following his tenure in London and Singapore as UBS’s global head of real estate, he retired from the firm at 34 and returned to Australia.
Pridham established the boutique investment bank First Provident, which was acquired by JP Morgan in 2004. There, he assumed the roles of Head of Investment Banking and subsequently Executive Chairman. In 2009, he launched the Australian division of the US-based Moelis & Company through a joint venture where Australian executives held a 50% stake. This entity later rebranded as MA Financial Group; Pridham remained CEO until 2020 before transitioning to the position of Group Vice Chairman.
Joining the Sydney Swans board in 2004, Pridham was appointed Chair in 2013. During his tenure, the team secured the minor premiership and competed in the 2014 AFL Grand Final. He has been vocal about what he perceives as an overbearing influence by Melbourne-based AFL clubs, particularly criticizing Collingwood’s Eddie McGuire. In 2015, Pridham publicly denounced the racially charged booing directed at Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes, delivering powerful statements opposing racism and defending Goodes in media appearances.
Awards and recognition
Pridham was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) during the 2019 Australia Day Honours for his exceptional contributions to investment banking, asset management, sporting bodies, and philanthropic efforts.