Trevor Edwards, the CII’s group finance director, has left the board of the Personal Finance Society after less than a year in the role.

His departure, reported in a Companies House filing, means he is the fifth director to leave the PFS board this year.

He was appointed to the PFS board last year on 30 September.

In a statement to Financial Planning Today the PFS said: “Trevor has made an exceptional contribution to both the CII executive leadership team and the PFS board during his time with us.

"His wisdom, expertise, and steady guidance have been greatly valued, and he will be truly missed by colleagues and friends alike. We thank him for all he has done, and wish him every success and happiness as he embarks on his next chapter overseas. The composition of the PFS board remains under continued review and any changes will be publicised in line with our usual procedure."

Mr Edwards departure was first announced in May after he decided to relocate closer to family members outside the UK. He joined the CII in 2019 as group finance director, having previously held senior finance roles in the financial services sector in the UK and Caribbean.  

Mr Edwards said: "I am privileged to have been part of the CII Group over the last almost 6 years, and all that has been achieved. I am proud of my contribution alongside expert colleagues to improving the group's financial position and ensuring that CII and PFS members can reach and uphold the highest professional standards for the benefit of the public wherever they are encountered around the world. I wish the CII the very best for the future."

Nine people are currently listed as PFS board directors: Carla Brown, President, Ian Callaghan, Michael Crane, Kate Gannon, Edward Grant, Matthew Hill, Debbie Mitchell. Craig Palfrey, Gill White.  

The PFS is the professional body for Chartered Financial Planners,

PFS vice-president Daniel Williams along with member director Ben Wright resigned from the board in May.

Mr Williams, who had been on the board less than two years, said he resigned over, “concerns about the culture and structure of the Personal Finance Society.” Mr Wright, who spent just over a year as a director, accused the PFS board of lacking, "independence and clarity of purpose."

In April former chair Christine Elliot and Matthew Mallet quit as board directors.

Ian Callaghan became a new director in March along with two more new board members, Kate Gannon and Craig Palfrey, who joined the board on 3 March. They effectively replaced Liz Bastin who stepped down in December from the PFS board and Anthony Ward who stepped down in October.

The board of the PFS has been beset by a rapid turnover in directors in recent times with 19 appointments or terminations of directors in 2024 alone, according to Companies House records.

That’s against a background of continuing unhappiness from some members about the direction of the organisation and the use of PFS financial reserves. In response, the PFS has countered that it is investing in new initiatives, including the recent launch of a £1m training and professional pathways campaign to find new blood for the profession.

Earlier this year President Carla Brown took on the additional role of chair to replace Christine Elliott, who left after only eight months.

PFS interim chief executive Don MacIntyre stepped down from his role in November last year. His two years in charge saw him face a challenging time as head of the organisation. He has yet to be replaced and there is no word yet on a timetable to replace him or if his role will be replaced.

• Editor's Note: Story updated 13.08.25 to include additional information and statement from PFS.