The latest moves and appointments for wealth management roles in the UK, other parts of Europe, the Middle East and select international locations.

The Openwork Partnership
The Openwork Partnership has appointed Mehdi Kadhim (pictured) as chief executive officer of Omnis Investments, the partnership’s investment business with immediate effect.

Kadhim is taking over from Robert Jeffree who chose to step down as CEO of Omnis in order to focus his expertise in delivering a new range of investment propositions planned for 2026.

Previously Kadhim was group chief transformation officer at Royal London prior to which he was CEO of Santander Asset Management UK.

“I am delighted to welcome Mehdi to my executive team,” CEO, Rob Barker said. “Omnis will play a crucial role in the next phase of Openwork’s growth strategy in which we are supported by Bain Capital. Robert Jeffree has revitalised the Omnis service and proposition during his tenure and I am pleased that he will stay on to support Mehdi in taking Omnis to another level.”

With more than £11 billion ($14.87 billion) assets under management, Omnis provides in-house investment solutions to the Openwork advisor network and its IFA network, 2plan. This includes its new flagship MPS proposition, Omnis Agility, an innovative range of portfolios blending active funds and ETFs.

Corker Binning
London-headquartered Corker Binning, a specialist criminal defence and regulatory litigation firm, has hired Priya Dave from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as of counsel with immediate effect.

Dave spent 10 years as a contentious regulation lawyer at the FCA, where she advised on and litigated complex regulatory and civil enforcement cases – including many high-profile and international matters – before the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee, the Upper Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

She also advised the FCA’s Supervision and Authorisations Divisions on supervisory interventions and contested applications for authorisation, which she litigated at the Upper Tribunal on behalf of the UK regulator.

Additionally, Dave has extensive experience in advising on complex financial services laws and rules, including the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), individual conduct rules (COCON) and the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR).

Before joining the FCA, Dave spent eight years as a barrister, defending and prosecuting the full breadth of criminal cases. She was seconded to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to work on the Rolls-Royce investigation.

“With her extensive experience and valuable insight gained during her time at the FCA, Priya will be a tremendous addition to our highly respected regulatory team,” Claire Cross, partner at Corker Binning, said. “She will play a key role in strengthening our capabilities, focusing on contentious financial services matters.”

It is Corker Binning’s third senior hire this year – the firm’s 25th anniversary – following the appointment of white-collar defence and investigations lawyer, Stephen Gentle, as a consultant in June and Henrietta Ronson as a partner focusing on general and serious crime in April.

Schroders Capital
Schroders Capital, the $111 billion private markets arm of Schroders, has appointed Sophie Florentin-Siu as business development director UK. She will report to Ingo Heinen, global head of business development at Schroders Capital, and Philip Middleton, head of UK client group at Schroders.

In this newly-created role, Florentin-Siu will focus on Schroders Capital’s private debt and credit alternatives (PDCA) offering in the UK. Her appointment reflects increasing investor demand for diversified private markets strategies across institutional and wealth channels – with private debt and credit alternatives growing in prominence as a source of return opportunities and portfolio income.

Schroders Capital’s PDCA business, co-led by Michelle Russell-Dowe and Stephan Ruoff, oversees some $38 billion in assets under management. With more than 100 investment professionals, it covers specialisms including real estate debt, infrastructure debt, asset-based finance and insurance-linked securities (ILS). 

Prior to joining Schroders Capital, Florentin-Siu led the business development efforts across PIMCO's top 30 UK institutional accounts. She also worked in PIMCO's wealth division where she dealt with winning new fund allocations for sub-advised mandates. 

This senior appointment is the latest in a series of hires across regions and asset classes as Schroders Capital builds out its team of private markets sales specialists globally. 

Simplify Consulting
Simplify Consulting, a UK-based financial services management consultancy, has appointed Mark Andrews and Michael James as practice directors.

Andrews has had an extensive career in financial services operations and transformation. With over 25 years of consulting experience spanning wealth, investment, insurance and pensions, he has delivered strategic work programmes to institutions including L&G, Ageas, Medical Protection Society, Lloyds Banking Group, and LV. With his expertise in operational excellence, technology, change delivery, and large-scale transformation, Andrews will  help shape Simplify’s management consulting propositions, the firm said in a statement.

James, who is joining as technology consulting director, has extensive expertise in management, business transformation, technology strategy, data and platform development. With a career spanning UK and international markets, James has worked with major financial services organisations from FTSE 100 firms to FinTech's and specialised providers. James’ technical and strategic insight will enhance the firm’s growing technology and digital transformation capabilities across the financial services spectrum, the business said.

The appointments follow Simplify’s recent expansion into the technology, insurance, and asset management practices, announced earlier this year.

“Both bring exceptional experience and a proven track record in delivering transformational change in complex, regulated environments,” Carl Woodward, co-founder and co-director of Simplify said.

Kate Monserrate, co-founder and co-director, added: “Their expertise and leadership will help further strengthen our delivery capability and continue to ensure Simplify adds real, measurable value across every engagement.”