Fairstone Ireland has recruited experienced wealth management executive Ian Brady as the new CEO of the company to help steer growth in the republic.
Fairstone Ireland is part of the UK Fairstone Group, one of the country’s largest Chartered Financial Planning firms.
Current Fairstone Ireland CEO and founder Paul Merriman will move to a new role as President and Founder of Fairstone Ireland.
Mr Brady has worked in the Irish wealth management sector in senior positions for 25 years. He was most recently CEO of wealth manager Unio and previously spent 20 years at wealth management and investment banking provider Davy Group as a managing director in the Wealth Management Division.
Fairstone says the appointment, subject to regulatory approval, marks a “significant milestone” in Fairstone Ireland's expansion plans.
Fairstone says it is growing rapidly in the republic, offering wealth management and Financial Planning, and has €4 billion (£3.5bn) in assets under management.
The company owns the 'askpaul.ie' financial advice business and has acquired 20 independently-owned wealth management and Financial Planning firms in Ireland over the past four years.
Fairstone Ireland’s origins date back to financial advice company askpaul.ie founded by Paul Merriman in 2016. Fairstone acquired the business in 2022 and Mr Merriman took up the role of CEO of Fairstone Ireland.
As President and Founder of Fairstone Ireland, he will remain a member of the executive management team.
Mr Merriman said: "Ian is one of Ireland's most respected leaders in financial advice and wealth management, bringing exceptional experience, vision and a proven track record of high-level management and growing progressive wealth businesses.
“As Fairstone enters its next phase of growth, Ian is ideally placed to lead the organisation and continue delivering outstanding outcomes for our clients, colleagues and partner firms. I look forward to continuing to support Fairstone Ireland's growth in my new role as President and Founder.”
Mr Brady said: “It's a privilege to take this role on from Paul Merriman, who built Fairstone Ireland into one of the fastest-growing advice businesses in the country. The business has earned the right to its next chapter: my job is to sustain that momentum and put the strength and depth beneath it that the opportunity demands.
“What drew me here was the ambition, and the alignment with group CEO Steven Cooper. Steven has set out a clear vision for Fairstone, an advice-led, client-outcome focused, whole-of-market wealth business, with the ambition to double by 2030 across the UK and Ireland.”
Fairstone Group CEO Steven Cooper CBE said: “The appointment of Ian Brady reflects the company's commitment to enhancing its leadership team, as it pursues its long-term vision for the Irish market. I am delighted to work with both Ian and Paul in the months and years ahead.
“We now have £23bn of assets under management across in the UK and Ireland, serving over 100,000 clients across both markets. It is an exciting time for our organisation as the demand for client-centric Financial Planning and wealth management grows.”
Fairstone Group acquired eight financial planning and wealth management firms in the UK in the first quarter of 2026 and recently opened a hub office in Aberdeen. It expects to acquire 13 more firms in the UK this year.