Openwork is set to bolster its recruitment drive following a record year for mortgage and protection advisers joining the network.
Some 559 mortgage and protection advisers joined the large financial advice network in 2019 — 50 more than the 509 who signed with the network in 2018 and the network’s most successful year yet.
It follows the network seeing its best six months for recruitment in the first half of 2019 after a strong recruitment drive in 2018.
The latest entries to Openwork took its total adviser count to more than 3,900.
To support further growth the network has hired Tracey Saunders to the role of regional recruitment manager.
She joins from Quilter — where she was regional director — and will report to Stephen Wildgoose, recruitment and growth director.
John Cupis, mortgage director at Openwork, said: “The record recruitment figures highlight the strength of Openwork’s proposition and quality of service, as well as our reputation as a progressive, profitable and well managed network.
“It is a particularly exciting time for Openwork, and I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Ms Saunders who along with Mr Wildgoose will play a critical role in helping us achieve our recruitment ambitions as we continue to grow as a business.”
Ms Saunders said: “Openwork’s unique ownership scheme, innovative technology and competitive commercial framework will enable us as a business to attract an increasing number of mortgage and protection advisers.”
The appointment follows Openwork’s hiring of Carrie Morris as chief people officer in February last year and Michael Cauchois as regional recruitment manager in June.
The network announced at the start of 2019 it would look to recruit an additional 250 advisers over the next three years.
Openwork Limited operates as a directly authorised, multi-panel distribution network and was rated one of the best companies to work for in March last year.
It also bagged 11th place in FTAdviser's Top 100 Financial Advisers 2019 list.
imogen.tew@ft.com
What do you think about the issues raised by this story? Email us on fa.letters@ft.com to let us know.
