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As part of a planned succession, James Twining is joining Wren Sterling on 28th February 2022 as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Ian Halley, who is stepping down after five and a half years in the role.
James joins Wren Sterling from the Kingsbridge Group, a private equity backed specialist insurance broker, where he has been CEO for the last four and a half years. Under his leadership, Kingsbridge experienced strong growth and won numerous industry awards for innovation and customer service by investing in people, marketing, technology and strategic acquisitions, leading to a highly successful exit in 2020. He has extensive experience in financial services in senior leadership, strategy consulting and M&A roles, including six years as the Group Commercial Director of JLT Group plc.
Ian Halley joined in November 2016 and has led the business to deliver significant growth in AUM and profitability through the delivery of improved efficiency, organic growth and selective acquisitions. Ian also led Wren Sterling’s management team through its secondary management buyout with Lightyear Capital in July 2021.
Ian will become a Non-Executive Director at Wren Sterling. He will continue to sit on Wren Sterling’s Risk & Audit Committee and support Ian Darby, Wren Sterling’s Executive Chairman, on the business’ acquisition strategy.
Ian Darby, Executive Chairman, said: “Ian Halley has led Wren Sterling with exemplary commitment and focus resulting in significant revenue and profit growth as well as the successful completion of our recent secondary management buyout. His contribution across all areas of Wren Sterling has been enormous, and he hands over a business that has the foundations in place to realise our growth plan. I look forward to continuing working with Ian on our critical risk and acquisition agendas.
“I’m delighted to have secured the services of an outstanding leader in James Twining and I’m looking forward to working closely with him over the coming years as Wren Sterling grows organically and through targeted acquisitions.”
James Twining, Chief Executive Officer, added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Wren Sterling at this exciting point in its journey. The business has a client-first culture, an excellent team, a compelling proposition, as well as the backing of a highly experienced and supportive investor.
“The demand for independent financial advice in the UK will only grow in the coming years and it has never been more important to ensure that we are able to help clients by delivering that advice in an accessible and affordable way.”
Ian Halley commented: “Wren is a super business with fabulous people working to provide great advice and service to clients. The business has a clear strategy to grow organically and through selective acquisitions. This growth will be accelerated through planned further investment in client propositions in the coming years. James’ experience and in particular his previous knowledge in developing award winning client service will be valuable in the delivery of this investment.
“Additionally, I am delighted to be staying with the business in a Non-Executive role.”James Twining, Chief Executive Officer, Wren Sterling