Swindon-based Openwork focuses on growth with new leadership roles

Openwork, one of the UK’s largest and longest established financial advice and investment networks, is strengthening its Executive team and growth opportunities with the creation of a new role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

Mike Morrow has been promoted from Wealth & Platform Director to CCO to lead on proposition development across the business as well as the development of the Wealth Platform and contractual relationships with adviser firms and third parties. He starts his new role from the end of January.

Claire Limon, currently Director of Learning and Acquisition, joins the Executive Committee and will become Wealth Director as part of these changes. She will remain responsible for wealth adviser recruitment as well as retaining responsibility for Openwork’s award-winning Academy and Learning and Development.

Pat McKenna, Sales Director at Owl Financial, Openwork’s specialist protection advice business, is retiring in March and will be succeeded by Liam Richards, currently Head of Sales at Owl.  Liam will report into John Cupis, Mortgage Director at Openwork.

Philip Howell, Chief Executive of Openwork, said: "Key to our success will be our ability to focus on strategic implementation of our key deliverables and it is to this end that I have created a new role of Chief Commercial Officer.

“Mike’s understanding of the business alongside his experience and background makes him the best candidate for this important new role. These changes will position us well for our growth ambitions across the business and our specific focus expanding our successful Wealth proposition.  I congratulate both Mike and Claire on their new roles.

“We are sorry to see Pat retire and thank him for his considerable contribution to the development and success of Owl, from its early beginnings to a position where it now protects over 400,000 households across the UK. I am confident Liam and John will build on the success of Owl Financial as part of these changes.”

Mike Morrow has run the Wealth Channel at Openwork since 2015 and previously worked for Ascentric as Sales and Marketing Director was Head of Insurance and Investment at HSBC. Earlier in his career he was Head of Platform and Distribution at AXA.

Claire Limon joined Openwork as Head of National Sales at Owl in 2017 before being promoted to Director of Learning & Acquisition in 2019. Previously she was Retail Director for Countrywide Plc, and Head of Insurance at Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Liam Richards joined Owl Financial in November 2019 and has a wealth of experience in financial services, having previously held key roles at St James' Place, Nationwide and Santander.