Independent Wealth Planners (IWP), the acquisitive Financial Planning firm, has begun the search for a new chair after founder and chair David Inglesfield unexpectedly stepped down at the end of December.

Mr Inglesfield helped to set up the firm, which has grown rapidly through acquisition, in 2019.

Since 2019 IWP has acquired more than 30 adviser and Financial Planning firms, most of which retain their original name.

In a statement today the company said: “David Inglesfield’s role as chair of IWP Investments came to an end on 31 December. We are grateful for his role in securing our acquisitions pipeline over the last 12 months and wish him all the best for the future.”

IWP has been a major force in M&A activity in the Financial Planning sector for several years but the pace of acquisition growth has slowed in recent months.

The firm’s last acquisition was in August when it acquired female-led Financial Planning firm Holistic Financial Leadership, adding £252m in assets to IWP.

On Mr Inglesfield’s LinkedIn page it says he completed his work at IWP this month. According to his LinkedIn profile the history enthusiast is now studying part time for an MA in Modern European History at King’s College, London.

He was CEO of IWP from April 2019 to January 2022 and then took on the role of chair from Jan 2022. Altogether he worked for IWP for three years and 10 months. He is a former head of wealth at KW Wealth and former managing director of Zedra Group.

He is the founder of IWP and chair of IWP Investments. He developed IWP’s ‘hub’ strategy - buying significant regional Financial Planning firms and then using those firms as 'hubs' to acquire other Financial Planning businesses in the area. He said his aim was to, “build together Britain’s best independent wealth planning business.”