Westridge SSAS has recruited three new executives a week after it bought James Hay’s SSAS book.

Wayne Barlow will join as head of client experience, with his most recent role being operations director of James Hay.

He has previously held senior roles at Rowanmoor SSAS, AXA Wealth and Winterthur. He has joined to help oversee the transition of James Hay SSAS to Westbridge SSAS and to improve the client experience through investment in people, technology and process.

Rockly Leanders will join as group financial controller, having held similar roles at Next and Lands End Europe. He trained at KPMG in Leicester as an auditor in the financial services sector.

Nick White will join as regional sales director for the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. He will join from Embark Group and was previously at Rowanmoor SSAS, Zurich and Axa. He joins to expand distribution and service to financial advices.

The purchase of James Hay’s SSAS book added over 1000 SSAS, 48 SSAS employees, and over £1bn of assets under administration. The purchase also meant that Westbridge now has SSAS offices in both Bristol and Leicester. 

Westbridge SSAS reported record high levels of new business for the fourth quarter of 2020, and the firm said it is now on track to break that in the first quarter of this year.