Financial Planning-focused wealth manager Atomos has appointed Team GB para ice swimmer Jonty Warneken as head of its Harrogate office.

He will work with the existing Atomos team to continue to build the office.

Mr Warneken previously worked at Atomos’s former owner Sanlam Wealth for almost seven years until 2019, when he joined wealth manager Brooks Macdonald.

There he was responsible for the Northern offices as well as managing portfolios for private clients, charities, companies, trusts and pensions. Previously he was an investment manager at Rensburgs and a wealth manager at Deloitte and Prudential.

Mr Warneken has competed for Team GB in the extreme sport of ice swimming.

He graduated from the University of Hull with a BA in psychology with sociology and anthropology and had hoped to become a military pilot and play rugby union for his country. His dreams ended after a car accident resulted in him losing his left leg and needing his skull rebuilt but he did not let the tragedy stop him from pursuing a different path.

He has held the world record for completing the Longest Para Male Ice Swim and has represented Team GB at two Ice Swimming World Championships. Aside from swimming, Mr Warneken has competed in downhill skiing, Nordic skiing and in triathlons.

Giles Marriage, head of portfolio management at Atomos, said: “Jonty has joined at a crucial stage for our Harrogate office. He has extensive experience in providing investment solutions to clients having created a wealth division at Ansbacher & Co Ltd.

“He has headed up regional leadership teams and has recently found time to become the first amputee to swim the northern channel.”

Atomos, formerly part of Sanlam Wealth, provides Financial Planning and bespoke portfolio management. It is 100% owned by funds managed by private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management and is led by chief executive Jonathan Polin.

Atomos manages £7bn of investments and savings for 13,000 clients and provides Financial Planning advice from 15 regional offices.