Expanding national Financial Planning and investment group One Four Nine has appointed industry veteran Chris Merry as its first chairman.

Mr Merry, former CEO of family office wealth manager Stonehage Fleming, will be the first chairman of the firm which was launched in 2021 and has £1.4bn of client assets under advice.

One Four Nine has grown rapidly through acquisition and organic growth in the past three years and has nine offices throughout the UK with 120 staff.

Mr Merry has worked in financial services for four decades and has had roles in accountancy, wealth management, banking and investment businesses including at PwC, Ipes Group and, most recently, Stonehage Fleming.

He has substantial experience in M&A and overseeing organic growth strategies.

One Four Nine Group CEO Gabrielle Beaumont said: “Appointing our first chairman is a real milestone for us and I am excited to begin the next stage of evolution for One Four Nine Group.

“Following a robust period of growth and the successful launch of One Four Nine Wealth, into which all locations will be unified, the year ahead will see building momentum on the integration process, bringing all of our businesses under one brand and operations umbrella. We really needed the right skillset in a chairman, so Chris’ extensive experience leading successful wealth management businesses across acquisition and integration projects was a key factor in our decision to appoint him.”

Mr Merry said: “The proposition at One Four Nine Group is outstanding and I am delighted to be taking on the role of chairman for a business with a strategic vision that is both ambitious and responsible, placing client and staff wellbeing at its core. The senior leadership team has already achieved a lot in a relatively short time and I am eager to begin working closely with the board in shaping the next phase of the growth journey.”

One of One Four Nine’s most recent acquisitions was in September when it bought Lancashire Financial Planner 1st Chartered Financial Planning for an undisclosed sum. It added 1st Chartered to its One Four Nine Wealth arm which operates alongside One Four Nine Portfolio Management. The two arms provide a wealth advisory firm with an in-house discretionary investment manager.

The deal was the group’s ninth acquisition since launching in October 2021 and follows two previous North West acquisitions, Rice Whatmough Crozier and Charter Financial Planning.