Tom Hegarty has been appointed as new CEO for adviser support services firm Simplybiz.

He will join Simplybiz from 1 April.

Most recently Mr Hegarty was managing director of M&G Wealth Advice, where he created The Advice Partnership and established the M&G Wealth Advice Academy in 2021.

Mr Hegarty has previously held roles within Simplybiz parent firm Fintel. Former roles include managing director of the New Model Business Academy, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Fintel, where he developed one the of the first apprenticeship programmes in financial advice.

Mr Hegarty has also been actively involved in various sector initiatives. He currently chairs the New Talent Alliance, an organisation dedicated to attracting and developing new talent within the financial advice profession. He also chairs the Trailblazer Group within the financial advice sector for apprenticeships.

Matt Timmins, CEO of parent firm Fintel, said: “I believe that Tom will work with the team to build enhancements to our compliance and regulatory services whilst focusing the business on the technology opportunities of the future.

“Having worked with Tom for a number of years, I know he has the vision and delivery mindset to build an even greater business than the one we have today.”

Parent company Fintel has seen a number of senior staff changes over the past year.

In February Fintel joint chief executive Neil Stevens announced he will step down at the end of June, leaving Matt Timmins in sole charge of the fintech and adviser support services firm.

Mr Timmins will take over sole responsibility as CEO of the firm after its AGM on 20 May.

Simplybiz is part of fintech and support services firm Fintel which made a number of acquisitions last year.

In July 2024 Defaqto, owned by Fintel, conditionally acquired fund ratings and research agency RSMR for an undisclosed amount, subject to regulatory approval. Fintel acquired support services firm Threesixty from Abrdn for £14.6m earlier in July .

It completed four other deals in the first half of the year, including the acquisitions of Synaptic Software, Owen James and ifaDASH, alongside significant investment in Mortgage Brain.

Those acquisitions followed the group's investment in CRM entrant Plannr, which had been announced in June 2023.