Mr Edwards will be responsible for the firm’s investment management teams based in London, Liverpool and Birmingham, in this newly created role. He has held senior positions at Barclays, Coutts and HSBC.

Mr Edwards, who will be based in Liverpool, will also sit on the group’s executive board. He moved into finance after his career as a rugby player was ended after suffering an injury soon after winning a professional rugby contract. He also played for Northwest Counties.

He is a leading figure in the wealth management industry in the Northwest of England and joins Tilney from Julius Baer, where he held the position of managing director. His other previous roles include head of Barclays Wealth’s regional business in Manchester and Liverpool as well as a number of senior positions at Coutts and HSBC.

Peter Hall, chief executive of Tilney Bestinvest, said: “Alan is an incredibly experienced and high calibre professional.

“In recent years we have assembled what I believe is an outstanding management team at the business and I am confident that as part of the leadership team Alan will play a pivotal role in the continued success of the businesses.”