SimplyBiz chairman Ken Davy’s restricted national advice business, Sandringham Financial Partners, has hired former Aviva sales and marketing director Pete Hales as chairman.
Hales is a former Chartered Insurance Institute president and holds a number of non-executive director posts including Skipton Building Society and Unum Ltd.
The firm has also hired Barry Kayes as deputy chairman. Kayes has held senior positions with Scottish Life, Friends Provident and The Hartford, and was Tenet chairman for 12 years until October 2006.
He also sits on the Aifa board and is a former member of the CII Life and Pensions Faculty Board.
Davy unveiled Sandringham in July. It is currently waiting for FSA authorisation.
SimplyBiz is set to invest £2m in the business, with Davy taking on a marketing consultant role.
Davy says: “With the full launch a matter of weeks away, this is an incredibly exciting time for everyone associated with Sandringham. I believe we have brought together the best possible team to enable Sandringham to deliver a winning formula that will be second to none and which will present a unique opportunity for every adviser looking for a fresh opportunity in 2013.”
Hales says: “It is very exciting to be involved in a new venture at this time of major industry change.”
Highclere Financial Services partner Alan Lakey says: “Peter Hales has been around the industry a long time, probably longer than me. Ken Davey has always surrounded himself with excellent lieutenants who are well-respected.”