The Personal Financial Society (PFS) has appointed Don MacIntyre as interim CEO.

He joined the professional body for Financial Planners this week.

Mr MacIntyre joined the PFS from an 18-month tenure as interim CEO of UK cyber security professional body the UK Cyber Security Council.

He will work with the board and an executive search consultancy to secure a permanent CEO in early 2023.

Mr MacIntyre said: “The PFS is a professional body that continues to grow and evolve, to support members’ ability and professionalism in providing financial advice and planning services to clients. Maintaining public confidence and a laser focus on members’ interests and the means by which the PFS can meet their needs, efficiently, effectively, and consistently will be a significant part of my work in the coming months. The financial planning profession has an important role to play in an increasingly challenging economy and I look forward to helping further its ability to do so.”

His priorities in the meantime will include promoting the PFS’ strategic plan and deliver a successful AGM in September, November’s Festival of Financial Planning, and supporting the board to ensure that the PFS continues to meet its purpose and provide members with training and Chartered status.

The PFS began its search for an interim CEO last month.

The PFS CEO role, held by Keith Richards, was axed last year by parent body the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) but was reinstated in February this year in a U-turn.

Many PFS members were angered about the axing of the role.

Sarah Lord, president of the PFS, said: “The board is delighted that Don will bring his varied expertise and extensive experience to this important role. Not only will he represent and advocate for PFS members’ interests, he will also work closely with the board to preserve PFS assets and enhance our governance.”

Jonathan Clark, outgoing interim CEO of the CII, said: “One of the key findings from our Shaping the future together consultation was that members wanted continued collaboration between the CII and Personal Finance Society Boards and a new PFS leader within the Group. This was both welcomed and supported by the CII Board, so I am delighted the PFS Board have recruited Don MacIntyre as interim PFS CEO.

“We look forward to closer collective engagement, so we have a united understanding of the challenges the professions face. We can then deal with those challenges in a simple clear way; a way that – without compromise – always has our membership at heart.”

The 40,000-member professional body for Financial Planners dropped the role of CEO following the departure in June last year of respected PFS CEO Keith Richards. The CII said at the time that the role of PFS CEO would not be directly replaced but instead a chief membership office would lead the PFS combined with CII responsibilities.

The CII combined the CMO and PFS CEO role in 2016 with Mr Richards holding both positions in recent years.

The CII decided to do a U-turn after stiff opposition from members, particularly PFS members.

Together the CII and PFS have 125,000 members, which includes 40,000 PFS members.