Pensions provider The Embark Group has snapped up one of James Hay’s directors and announced three other senior appointments.

James Hay is fighting an HMRC charge of nearly £2million in connection with a probe into a non-standard investment.

The ex-chief executive of James Hay’s parent company IFG Group has been unveiled as the new CEO at Financial Planning tools provider EValue.

James Hay bosses say they are focused on “getting the basics right” on service but acknowledged there was “some way to go”, as the firm reported an adjusted operating profit £7.1 million.