The Institute of Financial Planning has announced that Sam Rees-Adams will be joining the IFP team from this week in a newly created, full-time post of professional standards director.
Following the announcement earlier this year that IFP education director Sue Leech will be taking early retirement, Sam will now take on this broader role which encompasses that of education director and has been extended to provide scope for greater emphasis on professional standards.
Her background has included being an English teacher, a trainer, qualifications manager as well as director of the Financial Services Skills Council. She has recently been running her own consultancy business where she has supported FPSB UK's OFQUAL application and has served on the Examination and Certification committee.
She will be part of the IFP's senior management team. She will lead the Professional Standards team in supporting the needs of IFP members and Financial Planning firms to meet and maintain the highest professional standards in Financial Planning. She will co-ordinate the provision of clear development pathways as well as the effective education and CPD programme that IFP operates for its members. She will also be responsible for auditing of CPD records to check that standards are being maintained.
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Sam Rees Adams said: "I'm delighted to be joining the IFP, an organisation which is so well known for its commitment to excellence and high standards in Financial Planning. I'm looking forward to this challenging and exciting role and welcome the chance to work with so many professional and dedicated Financial Planners and Paraplanners as well as the dedicated IFP team"
Steve Gazzard CFP^CM, chief executive of the IFP, said: "These are very exciting times for the IFP and for the Financial Planning profession. Sam will be a great addition to the strong team we have in place here at the IFP. Her considerable wealth of experience in key areas of education, qualifications and training will allow us to build on the excellent work that has been done by Sue Leech and our education team and help develop our focus on professionalism and development pathways. Our thanks go to Sue for the fantastic work she has done for the IFP and the Financial Planning profession over the past few years. For the future, Sam not only brings significant subject matter expertise but also has experience of operating and influencing at board level. This will really help us to ensure that our strategy delivers real value to our members for the future. I'm really looking forward to working with her as indeed are all of the IFP team here in Bristol."
Rebecca Taylor FIFP,CFP^CM President of IFP, said: "I am very excited to be able to welcome Sam to the IFP's Senior Management Team . Sam brings a wealth of experience and will be joining us at a time when both the membership needs of education programmes are increasing and our own strategy at the IFP is bringing new areas of development to the fore, therefore providing a challenging and high profile role. The IFP board and education committee is looking forward to working with her."