Leach, who has been head of Brewin’s Taunton office since its launch in 2000, will be joined by Jeremy Parrott, divisional director and financial planner, and two of their colleagues, all of whom will move to Bristol to kick-start Brewin’s new base.

Brewin announced its plans to open up in Bristol in May, following the publication of its interim results. Total managed funds at the firm rose to £25 billion (around $40.5 billion) as of 27 March, up from £23.2 billion at 26 September last year, while adjusted profit before tax also rose, to £22.9 million from £20.9 million on 28 March last year, an increase of 9.6 per cent.

The Bristol office, which will open in the next financial year will be Brewin’s forty-second in the UK and Channel Islands. Several firms have been busily expanding their regional networks in the UK in recent years, not only due to the growth of hubs of wealth outside of London, but also in a bid to snap up assets from advisors exiting the industry ahead of the Retail Distribution Review’s implementation.

The new Bristol office will complement Brewin’s existing branches in south west England, which include offices in Cheltenham, Dorchester and Exeter.