Personal Touch Financial Services has named Jane Cross as its new chief executive.
Ms Cross replaces Max Wright, who held the role for five years and immediately took up a non-executive director post.
Mr Wright will become chairman of the network in 2015.
Ms Cross, who has previously served as finance and IT director for the network, has worked for nearly 12 years in finance teams for organisations including Clarke Roxburgh and Jelf, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Speaking about the appointment, Mr Wright said: “Her unrivalled understanding of the complex challenges the market currently presents and her insight into the needs of adviser firms really impressed us.”
Speaking about his own future with the network, Mr Wright said: “While I had to make the difficult decision to step away from day-to-day management, I am looking forward to focusing on more strategic guidance.”
Ms Cross, who joined Personal Touch in January 2012, will have a formal welcome presentation at the network’s Personal Touch Live event on 22 January 2015.
She is the second woman to become chief executive of an adviser network; Mary-Anne McIntyre was appointed chief executive of Openwork in June 2011.
Adviser view
Jeremy Edwards, IFA for Leicestershire-based Bankfield Financial Advisers, said: “For most networks the biggest challenge is balancing meeting the requirements of the regulator and meeting your commercial requirements.”
