Advice network The Openwork Partnership has appointed adviser Stuart Dodson as managing director as chief commercial officer Mike Morrow announced he is to step down.

Mr Morrow will leave in February after six years at the network.

Mr Dodson is currently managing director of Newcastle Financial Advisers, a firm from within the network, a role he has held since 2013. He has previously held positions at Legal & General and the Money Advice Service.

He is also chair of Openwork’s Shareholder Council.

Liam Richards has been promoted to strategic partner director to work with larger firms within the network.

Mr Richards is currently sales director at Owl Financial, the network’s specialist protection advice business. He joined Owl Financial in 2019 having previously worked for Nationwide, HSBC and Santander.

Openwork said the recruitment process to replace Mr Morrow as chief commercial office is “well advanced.”

Philip Howell, chief executive of The Openwork Partnership, said the changes to the network’s leadership team are designed to build for growth.

He said: “Our senior leadership team plans have been carefully managed to achieve the right combination of complementary skills to execute our strategy.

“We are delighted to be able to appoint Stuart Dodson and Liam Richards to their new roles and continue the evolution of our leadership team. We are sorry to see Mike leave and he does so with our genuine gratitude and best wishes for the future to a new personal opportunity.”

The Openwork Partnership currently has over 4,300 financial advisers operating across the UK. It operates a directly authorised, multi-panel distribution network.