Openwork enters next stage of growth phase with new hires

Openwork is entering the next stage of its growth strategy with the appointment of two national development directors, as the network seeks to further boost its scale in the run up to the RDR.
The new directors – Peter Smith and Mike Starkie, both formerly of Caerus Wealth – will join Openwork’s existing recruitment and development team in recruiting, training and inducting new advisers into the network. Both directors are highly experienced having spent many years in similar roles at network Personal Touch.
The two appointments follow Openwork’s recent announcement that Citri, the North East-based mortgage and protection specialists, with 138 advisers, is to become an Appointed Representative of the network next month.
Openwork had already significantly bolstered its proposition with the acquisition last September of leading independent advice firm 2plan Wealth Management, which has more than 200 advisers.
Mike Starkie says: “Openwork has come a long way in the past 12 months and we believe its proposition is now the most compelling for advisers seeking to tackle the challenges presented both by the RDR and the difficult economic climate. Peter and I are excited to be joining a business that has the resource and strategy required to continue to be a leading player in this market in the years ahead.”
Martin Davis, chief executive at Openwork, says: “We have made significant strides to develop the business in recent months and we believe the time is now right for Openwork to enter the next phase of its growth strategy. The appointment of Peter and Mike is a major boost to our ambitions and further enhances our capacity with advisers increasingly considering their options as the RDR looms ever larger.
“Peter and Mike have huge experience and have enjoyed great success in their careers so it is with great pleasure that I welcome them to Openwork at this exciting time in our development.”