Rapidly-expanding adviser and fund manager One Four Nine Group has bolstered its senior team with three senior appointments, including appointing a Chartered Financial Planner as chief operating officer.

It has also appointed a chief compliance officer and an M&A director.

The hires come as the firm celebrates its first anniversary after reaching the milestone of £1bn client assets during its first year.

It has made six acquisitions during its first 12 months, including Nottingham-based firm HFL Financial Advisers in October and Scottish Financial Planner Russell Gibson Financial in August.

Chartered Financial Planner Stuart Harding has joined as chief operating officer after spending more than 20 years in financial services with companies including Barclays, NatWest and most recently Attivo.

He will oversee the group’s operational and technology strategy, including the integration programme.

Barry Strathearn, a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, has been appointed chief compliance officer. He has more than two decades of regulatory knowledge in financial services gained with firms that include Nationwide Building Society and Cumberland Building Society.

Asif Huq, who has specialist expertise in wealth management M&A gained at companies such as EY and Schroders, has joined as M&A director, supporting managing director Gabrielle Beaumont on the group’s acquisition activities.

Matthew Bugden, One Four Nine chief executive, said: “Our colleagues in the six firms who are already part of the One Four Nine family are excited about these recent appointments and are looking forward to the operational and propositional change that will follow.

“Our staff are our greatest resource, so I am delighted to welcome Stuart, Barry and Asif to our ranks. We have ambitious plans for 2023 and will make further appointments in due course to continue maximising growth opportunities in the coming months.”

One Four Nine is funded by private equity firm Copper Street Capital and has also entered a long-term financing arrangement with Cordet Capital Partners.

It is a relatively new entrant to the adviser M&A sector and was launched in 2021. One Four Nine Group is focused on tax-efficient investments, including EIS, and its growing financial advice arm.