The deVere Group, an independent financial advisory group, is launching its first office in Sweden in the second quarter of this year as the firm aims at opening 12 offices in 2012, creating 100 offices over the next five years.

Mark Saunders, who has been hired to lead the firm's Scandinavian operation, “brings extensive and senior level wealth management to his new role, including more than eight years in specialising in expatriate financial planning in continental Europe”, deVere said in a statement.

The statement did not elaborate on Saunders’ previous employment history; this publication was unable to reach deVere Group at the time of going to press.  

Saunders reports to deVere Group director, Mike Coady, who is responsible for the organisation in Europe.

The firm describes itself as the worlds's largest independent financial consultancy. It serves over 60,000 clients in more than 100 nations, collectively advising on $8 billion of client money.