Evelyn Partners has made major executive changes at its Bestinvest arm as it moves from being a DIY investment platform to a company focused on hybrid advice.

Evelyn says the changes will speed up Bestinvest's transformation into a hybrid adviser combining digital delivery and human advice.

The new hybrid Bestinvest went live in May. 

In the first of the exec changes, Bestinvest has appointed a new head of Bestinvest in the shape of Oliver Plant who led the Bestinvest transformation project.

Following the project, Bestinvest has moved from being a DIY consumer investment platform to offering more digital money management services and in-person investment coaching. Clients can access regulated advice when they need it.

The firm is also increasingly focusing on app delivery, it says.

Evelyn Partners’ chief marketing officer Simonetta Rigo said: “As a leading wealth manager with a huge Financial Planning reach, Evelyn Partners was already unusual in also having an execution-only investing platform in Bestinvest. Now in its transformational hybrid form, Bestinvest not only offers something for more confident investors but also provides greater support for those needing a helping hand, so it bridges the gap between DIY investing and our advised investment services.  

“It does this by offering all clients free person-to-person investment coaching as well as one-off affordable packages of regulated advice, all of which we are hearing from Bestinvest clients really helps to clarify their goals and hone their investment strategy. Bestinvest is an essential plank in Evelyn Partners’ purpose of putting the power of good advice into more hands, and these appointments reflect the seriousness of that purpose.” 

BestInvest has made a number of commercial appointments to help build its hybrid business. 

These include:  

Martin Pezet is the new head of Bestinvest marketing. Mr Pezet spent the last six years at AJ Bell Youinvest. 

Louise Revell is head of Bestinvest proposition. She joins from global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman. 

Will Pointing is Bestinvest partnerships, performance and pricing manager. Mr Pointing undertook similar roles in the past at NewDay, WPP and MoneySuperMarket. 

Mr Plant said: “It’s very exciting to welcome Louise, Will and Martin on board to develop the Bestinvest proposition and raise its profile. We believe we are offering retail investors something new, which also happens to be great value, and these appointments demonstrate not just our determination to build on its initial successes but also the wider business’s belief in Bestinvest.”

Evelyn Partners is one of the UK’s largest wealth managers with £52.7bn in assets under management (as at 30 June). It has offices in 26 towns and cities in the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands.