Axa Wealth appoints strategist for D2C offering

Axa Wealth has appointed Ian Smith to lead the distribution strategy for its direct proposition Axa Self Investor as it gears up to launch later this summer.

Mr Smith joins Axa Wealth from business consultancy CTW. Prior to that, he was national IFA sales manager and sales director for Canada Life and L&G.

In his new role he will aim to support advisers looking to implement a direct-to-consumer proposition to complement existing distribution channels.

Marc Davies, director of Axa Wealth direct and business transformation, said: “Ian joins Axa Wealth at a time of development and transformation.

“With recent figures from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) suggesting there will be a compound growth rate of 71 per cent in the non-advised, self-investing market from 2011 to 2014, Axa Wealth has been working with a number of selected IFA and national firms to develop a direct proposition that will be invaluable to their business post-RDR.”