Wealth manager Walker Crips has made three appointments to drive the growth of its wealth division including a Chartered Financial Planner.

The company has hired Jonathan Downes as an investment manager to strengthen its York-based team and Chartered Financial Planner Scott Palmer as a wealth manager.

Mr Downes has over 20 years of experience working in wealth management and joins from Tilney - formerly Yorkshire Investment Group. He spent eight years at the firm, ending as investment management director. Prior to Tilney, he held investment management positions at Brewin Dolphin and James Brearley and Sons.

He will focus on managing existing clients and developing Walker Crips' business in the region including existing services and the new Model Portfolios Service.

Mr Palmer is a Chartered Financial Planner and joins Walker Crips from Novus Financial Services, based in Harrogate. He started his financial services career as a Paraplanner at Beaumont Robinson in Bradford, before joining PWH Financial Planning in Guiseley as an associate director.

The company also recently announced that James Bonarius has joined the team from Tilney.

Wesley Coultas, investment director, Walker Crips Investment Management, said: “Jonathan is an excellent addition to the growing York team and we look forward to the key role he will play in developing our portfolio offerings and supporting our continued growth. His many years of experience of strong client and professional relationships fits perfectly into our company ethos of providing good client outcomes.”

Dominic Martin, managing director, Walker Crips Wealth Management, said: “The addition of both Scott and James will undoubtedly strengthen our wealth management team as they bring additional breadth of knowledge and experience to our advisory offering. Their recruitment is part of an ambitious growth plan for the wealth management division and we remain committed to developing strong client relationships.”