Financial Planner and wealth manager Tilney has made three new hires in Northern Ireland.

Simon Martin has taken the role of director – Financial Planning, Alison Dean joined as a Financial Planner, while Chris McVeigh will be joining as managing partner.

Mr McVeigh joined from Ulster Bank Ltd where he spent 22 years, most recently as director, business banking.

Prior to this, he held leadership roles in retail banking, strategy and learning and development.

Ms Dean most recently worked as a private client adviser at Davy Private Clients and previously as an independent financial adviser for Danske.

Tilney says she “brings a wealth of experience” having covered specialist sectors including charities, pensions and high net worth clients.

Mr Martin has worked as a Financial Planner with Tilney for three years and has over 20 years’ experience in the profession previously working with Danske Bank, UBS and Lloyds Private Banking in Mayfair London.

The appointments to Tilney’s Belfast team come less than 10 months after the group opened its new office at Imperial House in the city’s business district.

The firm says the appointments are part of “ambitious plans to grow the group’s presence in the region”.

Last month, Tilney announced a merger with Smith & Williamson which is expected to complete in early 2020, and Tilney says this will “create one of the leading players in Northern Ireland”.

Paul Frame, head of region for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “Our new office opened in December last year to meet the needs of our growing client base in the region.

“These new appointments are a further indication of our commitment to providing expert Financial Planning and investment management services for the people of Northern Ireland.

“Both Alison and Chris are highly experienced and bring a huge wealth of expertise to our team and I am delighted to welcome them to the business.”