CEO of financial advisory firm to step down

James Twining

The CEO of Nottingham-based financial advisory firm, Wren Sterling, is to step down.

As part of a planned succession, James Twining is joining Wren Sterling on 28 February as CEO, succeeding Ian Halley, who is stepping down after five and a half years in the role.

Twining joins Wren Sterling from the Kingsbridge Group, a private equity-backed specialist insurance broker, where he has been CEO for the last four and a half years.

Halley joined in November 2016 and led Wren Sterling’s management team through its secondary management buyout with Lightyear Capital in July 2021.

He will become a non-executive director at Wren Sterling and continue to sit on Wren Sterling’s Risk & Audit Committee and support Ian Darby, Wren Sterling’s executive chairman, on the business’ acquisition strategy.

Darby said: “Ian Halley has led Wren Sterling with exemplary commitment and focus resulting in significant revenue and profit growth as well as the successful completion of our recent secondary management buyout. His contribution across all areas of Wren Sterling has been enormous, and he hands over a business that has the foundations in place to realise our growth plan. I look forward to continuing working with Ian on our critical risk and acquisition agendas.

“I’m delighted to have secured the services of an outstanding leader in James Twining and I’m looking forward to working closely with him over the coming years as Wren Sterling grows organically and through targeted acquisitions.”

Twining added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Wren Sterling at this exciting point in its journey. The business has a client-first culture, an excellent team, a compelling proposition, as well as the backing of a highly experienced and supportive investor.
“The demand for independent financial advice in the UK will only grow in the coming years and it has never been more important to ensure that we are able to help clients by delivering that advice in an accessible and affordable way.”

Halley said: “Wren is a super business with fabulous people working to provide great advice and service to clients. The business has a clear strategy to grow organically and through selective acquisitions. This growth will be accelerated through planned further investment in client propositions in the coming years. James’ experience and in particular his previous knowledge in developing award winning client service will be valuable in the delivery of this investment.

“Additionally, I am delighted to be staying with the business in a non-executive role.”

Wren Sterling has seven offices throughout the UK.

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