UK-based Ashcourt Rowan has recruited a motivational speaker to boost its business development activity.

John Page has been appointed conference and recognition manager. He joins the firm from Lloyds TSB, where he spent the last 17 years delivering motivational incentive programmes.

With the hire, the wealth management firm wants to boost its sales force in particular, and Page will report to national sales director Nigel Thomas.

“We operate in an extremely competitive but fragmented market. This creates a great opportunity for us – as long as our front-line business winners are correctly focused,” said chief executive Mark Cheshire.

Ashcourt Rowan was launched in January when Syndicate Asset Management merged three of its subsidiaries. Its two trading divisions focus on financial planning and asset management.

Last month the firm appointed an executive committee to ensure full advantage was taken of the opportunities from the merger; Cheshire set the asset management arm the task of doubling its size in terms of AuM and revenues in 1,000 days.