The latest senior moves in wealth and asset management from across Europe and the UK.

Tilney Smith & Williamson
Newly merged UK wealth management and services group Tilney Smith & Williamson has appointed John Bunch as chief commercial director, hiring him back from the US for the newly-created role. The 30-year veteran, with a long career in the US market, will join the executive committee and report to group chief executive Chris Woodhouse.

Bunch is former COO and executive vice president of Edelman Financial Engines, where he oversaw 130 branches and built the business into one of the largest US independent advisory firms, with around 1.2 million clients and $200 billion of assets.

He was also previously president of client services at TD Ameritrade in charge of the retail client experience at the branch, investor services, guidance solutions and investor education level.

He will carry revenue and profit responsibility across Tilney Smith & Williamson's financial services business and be accountable for business development, regional marketing plans, and setting pricing. He will manage around 290 investment managers and 265 financial planners in the combined operation.

Woodhouse said that Bunch comes with an "impressive track record of bringing businesses together and motivating teams." He also brings “invaluable insights gained from the US, the world’s largest wealth management market”, particularly using new technologies to support clients and advisors, he added.

Bunch has also held senior US roles at TD Waterhouse and Charles Schwab. He said the recent merger of two well-established UK firms has created "a formidable” business proposition.

Beaufort
Beaufort Financial, the UK advice business and part of Beaufort Group, today named Gwilym Lloyd Jones as the new director of its North Wales firm – Beaufort Financial St Asaph & Chester.

Lloyd Jones takes over from managing director and founder, Stephen Lyth, who going to retire after more than 38 years in the financial planning industry. He will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business, whilst working closely with co-founder and senior partner, Gaynor Lyth.

Prior to this, Lloyd Jones worked at Sanlam, where he spent more than 10 years, most recently as a senior chartered financial planner. He is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society.

Succession
Succession Holdings Jersey has appointed Patrick Gale as non-executive chairman. The appointment follows the retirement of Ray Pierce from Succession, who has been in the post since the firm was founded in 2009. 

Gale joins with more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, having previously worked in senior roles at Misys and independent financial advisor service company Sesame, where he was chief executive for seven years. He has since worked in a non-executive and advisory capacity across multiple leading financial services institutions, including Aegon, Defaqto, JLT Group, INED, The Boston Consulting Group and The Aztec Group.