Fast-growing national Financial Planning firm Wren Sterling has appointed Gareth Edwards as Financial Planning director to replace Austin Hutchinson who has moved to a new role of chief growth officer.
Mr Edwards will take on responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of Financial Planning across the business.
He joined the firm in 2022 and was previously regional director in the North of England, Wren Sterling’s largest regional team of Financial Planners.
Austin Hutchinson also joined the firm in 2022 and in his new role will focus on the drivers of Wren Sterling's future performance, including leading organic growth initiatives, strengthening adviser recruitment, and supporting the firm's M&A programme from a sales and adviser perspective.
He will also have responsibility for ensuring disciplined adviser due diligence, smooth adviser integration and positive outcomes for clients and colleagues. He will work closely with head of workplace Sarah Herd to accelerate the development of the company’s workplace and financial wellbeing proposition.
James Twining, chief executive of Wren Sterling, said: "These appointments reflect both the progress we have made and the ambition we have for what comes next.
“Austin has been instrumental in building the adviser community that underpins our growth, and his new role allows us to direct that capability toward the areas where it will have the greatest impact: organic growth, adviser recruitment and the continued development of our M&A programme.
“Gareth has demonstrated consistently strong leadership across our largest region, and I have every confidence in his ability to raise standards and drive performance across the whole of the Financial Planning business.”
It acquired Keyte Ltd in Taunton and Mackenzie Taylor in Glasgow, adding 1,400 clients and close to £500m in assets to Wren Sterling’s national advice business.
The firm also made a series of acquisitions in 2025. The firm completed its planned acquisition of Evans Hart, an established £900m AUM South East financial adviser firm serving 2,450 clients in London and the South East in December.
Wren Sterling had £1.8bn in acquired assets during 2025, with “further deals already contracted.” It is privately owned by private equity firm New York-based Lightyear Capital and its management team.
Wren Sterling Financial Planning is a national firm of Financial Planners with 20 UK offices advising on more than £10bn for clients.