Adviser network and support firm Sesame Bankhall Group has appointed Richard Harrison as its new CEO, subject to FCA approval.

He joins from Wesleyan Assurance Society where he is chief distribution officer with responsibility for financial advice, general insurance and distribution across five businesses.

He has 20 years of financial services leadership experience including head of network and premier at HSBC UK, where he was responsible for over 7,000 people at 520 branches.

Mr Harrison will join Sesame Bankhall on 2 January.

He started his financial services career working for an IFA firm.

He said: “Having started out working for an IFA, I’ve learned first-hand the value of quality financial advice and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives.”

From January current interim CEO and industry veteran John Cowan will return to his role as chair of the Sesame Bankhall board.

Mr Cowan said: “Our focus has been on finding a dynamic, driven, and ambitious CEO who will lead the group for the long-term benefit of the adviser community we support.

“Richard has a great track record of helping businesses to evolve and grow, through clear strategies and successful partnerships - with employees, advisers, and customers always at the very heart of propositions. With a breadth of experience across all areas of financial services, it’s clear that he is the ideal person to help drive and deliver our future plans and established business strategy, alongside our experienced management team.”

Former Sesame Bankhall Group CEO Michele Golunska left the firm in 2022 to become managing director of wealth and advice at Aviva. She was CEO of the network between 2020 and 2022.

Aviva is a shareholder of the Sesame Bankhall network.