Positive Solutions, the UK’s leading National IFA, has announced to its Partners that Jim Reeve, former managing director of Barclays Financial Planning, has been appointed the company’s new chief executive.

He formally joins the company on September 10 and will take up the chief executive role at the end of the month from Neil Johnson who, as announced earlier this year, will move to new IFA technology firm True Potential as senior partner.

The changes coincide with executive chairman David Harrison stepping back from day-to-day operational duties although he will continue to chair the Positive Solutions board of directors and work with parent company AEGON on the long-term strategy of the company.

Jim Reeve is a leading figure in the financial services industry, most recently as managing director of Barclays Financial Planning. He worked for Zurich group for 25 years, rising to managing director of Zurich IFA group in July 2001 before moving to Barclays in April 2004.

In a statement to Partners, David Harrison said over the last 10 years Positive Solutions had grown from

“two entrepreneurs with a vision”

to be the largest National IFA firm in the UK. He said a great deal of time had been spent finding the right team to enable that success to carry on during its next cycle of development.

“I have no doubt that Jim’s experience, character and drive will be of huge benefit to everyone involved going forward with Positive Solutions,” he said.

He also paid tribute to Neil Johnson who joined in 2000 and held finance director and chief operating officer roles before becoming chief executive in 2006. During his tenure, the company has grown from 42 Partners to 1,700 and is projecting turnover this year of £125 million.

AEGON UK chief executive Otto Thoresen said,

“Positive Solutions is judged by many as the most successful IFA company in the UK and David Harrison and Neil Johnson have built an outstanding business model.

“We are delighted that Jim Reeve is now joining as chief executive to lead Positive Solutions forward into the next phase of its development. His substantial industry experience makes him the ideal choice for the role and we are looking forward to seeing Positive Solutions achieve further success in the months and years ahead.”

Jim Reeve said,

“Positive Solutions already enjoys an incredibly strong position in the market and has seen impressive growth in the last few years. I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the 1,700 current IFA Partners and their future colleagues take the Positive Solutions proposition from strength to strength.”

He will be formally introduced at the Positive Solutions’ National Forum in Birmingham, taking place on September 13, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 Partners.

Notes to editors

• Positive Solutions has over 1,700 advisers serving over 530,000 clients across the UK, with assets under advice in excess of £6bn.
• Positive Solutions is part of AEGON, one of the world’s largest listed insurance groups with assets under management of £245 billion. AEGON UK has assets under administration of £49.8 billion.

For further information

Lesley McPherson
Head of Media
T. 0131 549 3782 | M. 07740 897 541
lesley.mcpherson@aegon.co.uk