Former NatWest CEO Dame Alison Rose has joined global platform ‘engine’ provider FNZ as chair of FNZ UK and as an FNZ Group board member.

FNZ powers many of the world's investment platforms, including several in the UK.

Dame Alison has more than three decades experience in financial services and stood down at NatWest in 2023.

FNZ said the appointment, “reflects FNZ’s continued investment in its leadership and its mission to open up wealth.”

Dame Alison will work with the FNZ boards to “accelerate” the company’s strategy and support the firms commitment to making investing “more accessible” to more people worldwide, FNZ said.

FNZ says it has over £1.5trn in assets on its platform and claims to be one of world’s largest wealth management platforms.

Dame Alison is currently chair at law firm Mishcon de Reya and a senior partner at Charterhouse Capital Partners.

She had a 30 year career at NatWest Group until 2023, ending her time there as CEO.

She also chaired the Government’s Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, which helped enable reforms to improve access to finance and support for female entrepreneurs across the UK. In the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, she received a Damehood for services to financial services.

Blythe Masters, FNZ Group chief executive, said: “Alison is an outstanding leader, and I am delighted to welcome her to FNZ. She brings deep knowledge of financial services and the UK regulatory landscape, as well as exceptional leadership qualities. Her insight and experience will be highly valuable as we strengthen our business globally.”

Dame Alison Rose said: “I am delighted to be joining the boards at FNZ at such an important time for the business. As chair of the UK board and a member of the FNZ Group Board, I look forward to working with Blythe and the wider FNZ team to support the company’s growth. FNZ’s mission to open up wealth and enable more people to invest in their future on their own terms is one I strongly believe in, and I’m excited to help advance it.”

• FNZ has also raised £495m from existing institutional shareholders to support its long-term business plan. Investors include La Caisse, Generation Investment Management, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Motive Partners. Some of FNZ’s worldwide clients will also take part in the capital raising, including Aberdeen Group PLC, Aviva PLC, FirstCape, Ninety One and Nucleus Financial Platforms. The company has also entered a ‘strategic partnership’ with Microsoft and launched products based on its proprietary AI to 'enhance' the productivity of client financial advisers. Last month, FNZ also announced the conclusion of a Section 166 review and associated Voluntary Requirement (VREQ) in the UK. This followed the company’s strengthening of its governance, delivery, risk management and operational frameworks, FNZ said.