Standard Life’s advice arm has hired a senior partnership development manager at St James’s Place to lead its north east regional office.
Mark Tootill will become managing director of the office in early July.
Former managing director Tim Johnson, who according to Standard Life has decided he wants a more client-facing role, will become financial planning director, and Steve Lloyd will be financial planning and client service director.
Steve Murray, 1825’s chief executive, said: “Mark’s experience and expertise will further strengthen the capability we already have, as we seek to build and grow our business further.”
Mr Tootill has 25 years’ experience as a chartered financial planner and before working at St James’s Place he worked at Prudential and Wesleyan Assurance Society.
Mr Johnson will focus on relationships with key clients and the mentoring and development of financial planning talent.
Meanwhile Mr Lloyd will be responsible for the end to end client experience.
Mr Tootill said: “It continues to be an exciting time for the financial planning industry with an ever increasing demand for quality advice.
“There are significant opportunities to add value and deliver the best outcomes for customers and I am looking forward to working with the team in Leeds and the wider 1825 business to achieve this.”
Speaking to FTAdviser back in March, Mr Murray said there had been no change in the firm’s strategy of expanding through acquisition as well as through recruitment and organic growth this year.
It has been 10 months since 1825 announced its most recent acquisition – Jones Sheridan in early July 2016.
But Mr Murray said: “We are certainly looking. We have got a good pipeline of acquisitions but it is important we keep the quality threshold high.
“What we have actually seen is an uptick in the number of people speaking to us. If it is right for both parties we will move to a discussion.
“We are quite comfortable growing the different parts of the business at different times.”
But he said that if 1825 wanted to achieve scale “sooner rather than later” it would have to be acquisitive to do so.
Back in March Mr Murray said 1825 had around 65 advisers – nearly half its initial target of 150.
damian.fantato@ft.com
