People: Wesleyan; Wrekin Products; Bromwich Hardy

Financial services mutual Wesleyan has strengthened its intermediaries team with the appointment of James Tothill as an investment specialist.

Tothill joins Wesleyan from Aviva Investors, where he was head of retail, responsible for helping grow the business’s presence in the UK retail adviser market with a focus on outsourced investment solutions.

Prior to Aviva, he also held roles at Zurich, Prudential and Henderson Global Investors, with experience in international markets, including South Africa, Asia and the Gulf States

In his new role, he will work with the fund management and distribution teams to continue the expansion of Wesleyan’s on-platform With Profits Growth Fund in the UK adviser market.

Tothill, said: “I am excited to be joining Wesleyan as Investment Specialist and to be part of the Intermediaries’ leadership team at this exciting time for the business and the intermediary market.

“With its With Profits Fund, Wesleyan has a highly distinctive offer in the growing smoothed investment solution market, with a proven track record of delivering consistent returns for investors, giving advisers a perfect solution for those clients they have identified as wanting real asset-type returns, with less than the historically associated volatility.”

Karen Blatchford, managing director of intermediary distribution at Wesleyan, said: “James comes with a wealth of experience having dealt with all aspects of the intermediary market, representing established investment propositions from both product providers and asset managers.

“His knowledge of the multi-asset intermediary market will support Wesleyan’s growth in this buoyant sector, and he will be a fantastic addition to the team as we continue to work to meet advisers needs so they can secure great client outcomes in markets marked by more regular volatility.”

Wrekin Products, a Staffordshire-based designer, manufacturer, and supplier of innovative civil engineering solutions, has continued to grow its workforce with the appointment of Steve O’Brien as operations director.

With over 25 years of industry experience, O’Brien’s role will bring clarity to the wider business ambitions and support its efforts to become leading experts in decarbonising ironwork solutions.

He said: “As operations continue to diversify, now is an essential time to continue to reiterate and drive home the important solutions that Wrekin offers. Both Wrekin Products and Geoworks provide unmatched products that truly work towards a more efficient future. With reducing the use of carbon in our materials, and a greater level of emphasis being placed on consumer perception, it is our responsibility to educate people in the role of
whole-life carbon and whole-life costs.

Steve O’Brien

“We are building momentum that must be harnessed to continue monitoring and improving the systems required to prioritise safety, maximise efficiency and build resilience for a greener, cleaner, future.”

Simon Turner, commercial director said: “This appointment demonstrates a continued investment and commitment to creating services and operations that are based around long-term positioning in the industry. As products are refined, we must consider the technology used, the specification of each solution, its sustainability and how to implement it safely, while working to our own net-zero targets for decarbonisation.

“Steve joins us at a time when we are reviewing our processes to ensure that collaboration, ownership and responsibility are in synergy with our business goals, enabling us to remain industry leaders, providing innovative and sustainable solutions.”

Bromwich Hardy, a leading Midlands commercial property agency, has continued to strengthen its expanding finance team with a new appointment.

Tracy Tilley, who has more than ten years of experience in finance, has joined the company as a property accounts assistant.

Tilley has previously worked as an accounts assistant at Clarke Properties and Trout Transport, which are both based in Leicestershire.

Dawn Cooper, partner at Bromwich Hardy, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Tracy to the team. She impressed us at the interview and we are looking forward to putting her experience over the last decade to work here at Bromwich Hardy.

“I’m impressed with the set-up at Bromwich Hardy and am looking forward to playing my part in the expanding finance team. Recent business growth meant that our finance department was working at full capacity and so by strengthening the team we are making sure that all our customers get the best accounts service.”