The new CEO has a proven track record of leading teams and delivering outstanding client service.

UK-based based IFA Ascot Lloyd has appointed Francis Jackson as chief executive officer, effective September, subject to regulatory approval.

Jackson will be replacing Nigel Stockton, who has led the business since 2015; Stockton announced his intention to step down in February 2024, the firm said in a statement.

Jackson (pictured) – a highly experienced financial services executive with a track record of delivering growth – is joining from the Royal Bank of Canada where he was the chief executive officer of RBC Investor Services. He was responsible for developing and executing growth strategies for the business, leading a team of 5,000 employees in 17 countries, and delivering roughly $2.5 billion in annual revenue.

At RBC Investor Services, Jackson implemented several digital transformation programmes, increasing operational efficiency and cost reduction. Prior to the four years he spent as CEO, he was the global head of client coverage for Investor & Treasury Services.

Jackson has gained financial services' expertise during his tenure in senior management and client-facing roles at a range of global institutions including at JP Morgan, where he was head of investor services sales, and SEI investments. He led a team designing SEI’s innovative investment processing platform aimed at the global private banking and wealth management market.

“As we look ahead, in Francis we have found a deeply experienced chief executive, who has a proven track record of leading teams and delivering outstanding client service,” Mike Covell, chair of Ascot Lloyd’s group board, said. “Francis has worked at some of the leading financial institutions in the world, consistently delivering growth and innovative digital transformation strategies, making him a great fit for the business. Francis has the expertise to lead Ascot Lloyd through this next phase of growth, building on the clear trajectory that has been set over the past decade.”

Ascot Lloyd has grown over the last 10 years to become a prominent independently-owned UK-based IFA. Today, Ascot Lloyd has £10 billion ($13 billion) in funds under advice and provides financial planning, wealth management and corporate benefit solutions to more than 57,000 clients.