Independent Wealth Planners has made a double appointment to its management team having created two new roles.
The group has appointed Rob Allen to the role of managing director and David Shiel as marketing director.
As IWP’s managing director, Allen will lead IWP’s national network of independent financial advisers.
Allen joins having worked in financial services for 25 years in the UK and Australia. His most recent role was managing director for commercial and business banking at Williams & Glyn, part of RBS.
He began his career as a consultant at Arthur Anderson, before moving to Australia and taking senior positions in Westpac and West LB.
Returning to the UK in 2009, Allen joined HBSC Commercial Banking as managing director, head of mid-market sponsor coverage UK & Europe.
Allen said: “IWP is a young, dynamic organisation, looking to take a different approach in the wealth planning sector with clients and people at its heart.
“I am looking forward to working day to day with the regional CEO’s and providing central support for our advisers across the UK so they can spend even more time serving their clients, while preserving the unique local market presence of each firm.”
Meanwhile, IWP said Shiel will be responsible for building the brand, supporting IFA acquisition, and driving customer growth.
He has spent more than two decades working in both agency and in-house marketing roles. His most recent role was as chief marketing officer at Cogress, a property and hotel investment company.
Shiel added: “Demand for independent financial advice in the UK is growing, but currently the sector is extremely fragmented with few widely-recognised, trusted brands.
“I believe IWP has a huge opportunity to become a leading brand in the market and am excited to help their services reach more people.”
Last week, IWP bought two more IFA firms, adding £362m to its client assets under management.
The deals followed a flurry of activity this year, with the purchase of Newcastle-based Professional Wealth Management in May and the acquisition of three firms in April.
Last month IWP also bought Yorkshire-based Acuity Wealth Management, marking the start of a new business arm offering remote advice directly to clients.
sonia.rach@ft.com
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