Dave Edwards appointed commercial director at Personal Touch

Edwards is member services and IT director who joined in 2010 to oversee the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review.

Personal Touch has appointed Dave Edwards to succeed David Carrington (pictured) as commercial director for the network.

Edwards is member services and IT director who joined in 2010 to oversee the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review.

He said: “Over the last few years we've seen substantial change in the regulatory landscape, and as a business we are constantly challenging how we can turn the evolution into opportunity.

“Our focus on delivering leading technology to simplify requirements for financial advisers revolves around bionic advice, where machines do 90% of the work, which provides 10% of the value, whilst advisers do 10% of the work that provides 90% of the value.

“I am hugely excited to take this strategy to our brokers in order to help them offer the most efficient and effective service to their customers.”

Carrington will retire from the industry in early 2017 after joining in 2012, while Simon Breakspear has been promoted to director of member services to replace Edwards.

Jane Cross, chief executive of Personal Touch said Carrington made an “invaluable contribution” to the firm’s growth.

She said: “Since day one David has shared our ethos as a firm that quality counts above all else and his work building relationships, strengthening partnerships and working with advisers across the UK has helped us to convey that message.

“I have no doubt that Dave Edwards will continue this work, along with using his unique expertise to reinforce our strategy of putting technology at the heart of our business to drive adviser growth through bionic advice.”