Martin Tilley, director of technical services at SIPP provider Dentons Pension Management, is leaving the firm after 30 years to join a wealth manager in the new year.

Dentons, one of the best known SIPP and SSAS providers, has appointed Stephen McPhillips as its new technical sales director to replace him.

Mr Tilley is a well known industry commentator and writes regularly for the business trade press, including Financial Planning Today. He will begin work for the so-far undisclosed wealth manager in January.

Mr Phillips has been with Dentons since January 2012, and has worked in the SIPP sector at a number of providers including, Pointon York, Cofunds, James Hay and Scottish Equitable.

He joined the sector 30 years ago, training as a SSAS administrator looking after his own portfolio of SSAS clients and became a field-based SSAS consultant which involved providing face to face SSAS consultancy services to clients, their financial advisers and accountants. He was elected a Fellow of the PMI in March 2018.

Derrick Fowler, joint managing director at Dentons, said: “Having spent 30 years with us, Martin has decided to move into a wealth management role and will be leaving Dentons in January. 

“He goes with our very best wishes and we thank him for his contribution to the business.  With immediate effect, Stephen McPhillips has been appointed technical sales director.

“With over three decades of SIPP and SSAS experience he was an obvious choice to move into this position. His technical knowledge is second to none and we look forward to continuing to provide expert help and support to advisers and their clients.”

Mr McPhillips said: “There has been unprecedented change in the SIPP and SSAS sector since I joined Dentons back in 2012.  Advisers are looking to partner with SIPP providers that are committed to the market and are investing to ensure they have the people, systems and processes in place to provide high quality administration.  That is Dentons in a nutshell, and I look forward to continuing to provide technical help and guidance to advisers.“