She will oversee plans to expand the office and develop it as Progeny’s base in mainland Europe.

Newell’s focus will be growing the team, building out capacity and defining the key role the expanded office will play in the wider Progeny business in Europe. She has worked in the Brussels office for a decade, and as a financial adviser for five years, with clients in Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

The office was initially established by The Fry Group, which was acquired by Progeny in 2023.

Newell commented: “I am delighted to take up this position heading up the Belgium operation. It is a hugely exciting time for our Brussels office as we look to invest, recruit and grow and I am pleased to be part of this journey as we expand not only in Belgium but further into Europe.”

CEO Neil Moles added: “Amanda will bring great energy and entrepreneurial flair to the role. She has extensive experience of Brussels and understands the opportunities and challenges facing our European clients.

“Our Belgium office will be a key anchor point for our European activities where we can build on an already successful footprint to support our clients on the continent. We’re committed to investing to build out our European function and international business.”

The PFS board has appointed Ben Wright as a director of the organisation.

Wright is a chartered financial planner and fellow of the PFS, based in Sheffield. He will serve an initial four-year term, with his first board meeting set for 21 March.

The PFS board has also elected two of its existing directors, Carla Brown and Daniel Williams, as vice presidents of the professional membership body.

Both Brown and Williams will act as vice president this year, with one of them to be elected to serve as president in 2025, subject to confirmation at this year’s AGM. The other will serve as president in 2026, again subject to confirmation at the next AGM.

Brown will additionally take on the role of chair of the PFS power panel, on which she has served as an active member for several years.

Fidelity International

The firm has appointed Keith Metters to lead its overall business as president.

Metters, who joined the company in 2020 to head up its Workplace Investing business arm, will report to chair Abigail Johnson.

Metters has more than 25 years of experience in the industry, having previously worked in the US at Fidelity Investments. While there, he adopted a range of roles, most recently leading its Workplace Investing core market division, where he led the implementation of investment strategies and solutions for clients.

He replaces CEO Anne Richards, who announced that she would be stepping down from her role last year.

Titan Asset Management

Square Mile Consulting and Research chief executive Richard Romer-Lee has been appointed co-CEO of Titan Asset Management.

He will share the role alongside current Titan AM CEO Paul Hunt, while also retaining his role as head of Square Mile.

The acquisition of Square Mile by Titan was announced in June 2023 and received FCA approval last week. It includes the £2.5bn in assets under management held across Square Mile’s MPS solutions.

Square Mile will continue to operate under its own brand and management.

Sarasin & Partners

The firm has appointed Nomura AM’s UK head of equity Tom Wildgoose as senior portfolio manager with a global equity focus.

Wildgoose will begin his new role on 4 March after spending over 16 years at Nomura. He began in 2007 as a global equity analyst and portfolio manager, before becoming head of global research for the UK office in 2011, and head of equity investment for global equity in the UK office in 2014.

Evelyn Partners has appointed Reinoud Noorduijn as a certified financial planner in its Guildford office.

The move is part of the wealth management group’s plan to continue growing the number of clients it works with in Surrey.

Noorduijn joins Evelyn Partners from Sheraton Financial Planning in Fareham, where he spent more than two years and was an associate financial planner.

He will be based at the firm’s office at Onslow House. The financial planning team in Guildford has expanded rapidly in recent years, growing from five advisers in 2021 to 14 today.

LGT Wealth Management

Mike Stirrup, formerly of Artorius Wealth and UBS, will join as a wealth planner, alongside Matthew Stevenson, who arrives from Evelyn Partners as a trainee investment manager.

The hires come after LGT announced plans to open its first office in Manchester in March, and expand its presence in Birmingham into new premises.

The firm will continue to strategically build the team over the coming months, adding further expertise for clients in the wider Northwest region.

Global X ETFs

The ETF provider has appointed Goldman Sachs’ Ryan O’Connor as CEO from 8 April.

O’Connor began at Goldman in 2017, where he became global head of ETF Product for the Asset Management branch, responsible for the overarching ETF product platform. Previously, he spent 11 years at State Street Global Advisors.

Since its founding in 2008, Global X has acquired over $40bn assets under management and functions as part of the Mirae Asset Financial Group, which holds over $550bn AUM.

He brings 25 years of experience in financial services to the firm. This has included roles in private equity-backed businesses, strategy development and execution, M&A and capital markets.

Wood was chief restructuring and financial officer of the Co-Operative Bank between 2017 and 2019, having co-advised on its third recapitalisation. Prior to this, he was CEO and CFO of Shawbrook Group where he led the business through its successful IPO and entry into the FTSE 250.

See also: The Lang Cat: Advised platforms suffer record outflows in 2023

Progeny said the appointment will strengthen the executive team as it prepares for the next phase of growth and positions itself as a global business.

Wood said: “I’m delighted to join Neil and the team at this exciting and energising time for Progeny. Progeny is a unique business well positioned to extend its scale and reach. I look forward to contributing to our future success.”

Neil Moles, chief executive of Progeny, added: “We’re very happy to welcome Tom to Progeny. Having spent time inside the business in an advisory capacity, he’s seen first-hand our ambition and what we’re seeking to achieve and has decided he wants to be a part of it.

See also: Chancery Lane CEO: Modern portfolio theory doesn’t work for income investors

“From a CFO of his pedigree and experience, I couldn’t think of a greater accolade for our business. Tom’s CV speaks for itself in that he is a highly skilled and strategic operator at this level with a demonstrable track record of success and we’re very excited about what he’ll contribute to Progeny.”