Financial products distributor, Personal Touch Financial Services (PTFS), has appointed a new HR director to its board.
Karen Pearson, who arrives at PTFS’s Solihull headquarters after 12 years at Torquil Clark, will oversee the business’s entire HR function, including recruitment, organisational design and development, and business transformation and change management.
Karen’s appointment comes at an important time for PTFS as it prepares to announce significant enhancements to its regional structure in order to support its growing network of advisers.
After qualifying with a Masters degree in Human Resources in 2006, Karen became a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. When Torquil Clark was acquired by Skipton Building Society in 2008, she played a vital role in the integration of the two businesses and the subsequent consolidation and restructuring of the four businesses within the Torquil Clark Holdings Group.
PTFS was established in 1994 and now ranks as one of the largest independent financial services communities in the UK, with more than 2,000 members.
Chief executive of PTFS, Doug Crawford, said: “We are pleased to announce Karen’s appointment to PTFS as we look to reshape our regional offering and grow market share across our core product areas.
“Karen’s experience and expertise lends itself well to the PTFS model and culture. Bringing in a dedicated HR director will bolster our position as a people-focused organisation, both in our internal approach and in the building of a broker community that is welcoming, professional and committed to excellence.”
Karen Pearson said: “I’m delighted to be joining PTFS at this exciting time in the company’s development. As the economy comes out of recession, a new set of challenges will emerge within financial services, and our broker community will look to us to provide an ever-greater level of service. The approach and commitment of everyone within our business will be key to ensuring their continued success.
“I plan to build upon the success of previous years, including our ranking as a Sunday Times Top 100 listed company, to grow and nurture the business into the future.”
The recruitment of a new HR director reflects the pace of change at PTFS, following the appointment of Doug Crawford in April 2010. Karen’s arrival comes just a week after PTFS announced pre-tax profit growth of four per cent to £2.6m in the year to 31 December 2009.