Aberdeen Adviser hires new senior execs in growth drive

Aberdeen Adviser, which provides one of the major adviser platforms, has announced a wave of senior executive hires, including new roles, as it pushes for growth.

The company says that the appointments will ensure the business has the, “right balance of leadership, expertise and accountability” as it responds to changing adviser needs and evolving market conditions. 

The business is adapting its pricing, platform delivery and client experience, it says, and will focus on adviser productivity, deeper integration and commercial execution.

The changes include:

• Ranila Ravi-Burslem joins as chief distribution officer

• Heather Curtis becomes chief client experience officer from 5 October

• Aron Mitchell joined from Aberdeen Investments as chief financial officer on 1 September.

• Jonny Black, currently chief client experience officer, has been appointed chief strategy & commercial officer, a newly created role.

Ranila Ravi-Burslem will lead the sales teams and joins from Lloyds Banking Group, where she was managing director, insurance & pensions distribution.  

Heather Curtis will oversee client experience and assurance, with accountability for customer service and end-customer outcomes across the business. She recently served as operations and service transformation director at Newcastle Strategic Solutions and previous experience spans M&G Wealth, Royal London, Capita and Bank of Scotland.

Mr Mitchell will lead the adviser finance team and will replace Louise Williams, the current Adviser CFO, who will leave Aberdeen to take up an external opportunity.  

Jonny Black will lead commercial delivery and strategic execution.

Rich Denning, CEO, Aberdeen Adviser, said: “These appointments further strengthen the Aberdeen Adviser leadership team and reflect our long-term commitment to advisers. Ranila, Heather, Aron and Jonny each bring deep industry expertise, proven leadership credentials and a shared focus on delivering great outcomes for advisers and their clients, as we move into this next phase of growth from a position of strength.

“The advice market continues to evolve, creating significant opportunities for businesses that can combine scale with the ability to innovate, integrate and respond quickly to client needs. By strengthening our leadership team across distribution, customer experience and strategy, we are ensuring Aberdeen Adviser is well positioned, as an independent platform, to continue growing and delivering for advisers and their clients.”