The investment arm of UK-based Heartwood Wealth Management has made the hire as part of its focus on advice firms.

London-based Heartwood Investment Management has appointed Paul Rose as intermediary client director.

Rose joins from Novia Financial where, as regional sales manager, he was responsible for the North West. Previously, he was national sales manager at Cofunds and regional sales manager at Zurich Financial Services.

Heartwood said the appointment reflects its efforts to help firms who wish to focus on the advice aspect of their client relationships and outsource the investment management of their clients’ funds.

“He brings a wealth of experience and an impressive reputation in the intermediary sector. He will play a key role in the development of our business amongst advice and wealth management firms in the future,” said Mark Rockliffe, head of intermediary sales at Heartwood Investment Management.

Heartwood had over £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) of assets under management and administration at 30 June 2016.