THE new chief executive officer at MBL Financial said he aims to make the business "the Island's biggest and best IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) financial services firm".
David Wilkinson took up his new role earlier this month and leads a team of 20 staff at the company's offices in Finch Road, Douglas.
MBL Financial was formed last year following the merger of established Manx firms MBL Financial Services and CFS Financial Consultants.
It can trace its history back to 1986 when MBL Financial Services was established. As the company prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Mr Wilkinson explained it is the potential he sees for the business that attracted him to the role of CEO.
He said: "I see this as a tremendous opportunity to develop and take forward MBL Financial using the firm foundations which have already been built. We already assist more than 5,000 clients with their financial needs, and there is tremendous potential to expand the business further."
Mr Wilkinson, a married father-of-two, has 29 years experience in banking and finance and moved to the Isle of Man in 1991 when he was appointed manager of one of the first building societies in the Island.
Immediately prior to joining MBL Financial he was Director of Intermediary Distribution at Standard Bank and his career also includes senior management roles with HBOS and Isle of Man Bank.
Last year MBL Financial became the first Isle of Man firm to be accepted as a member of FEIFA, the Federation of European Independent Financial Advisors.
FEIFA is a trade association that exists for the benefit of consumers and its members which are IFAs. It provides a strong voice for the IFA community across Europe and, said Mr Wilkinson, membership of FEIFA brings many other benefits.
"FEIFA provides a respected, independent, endorsement of selected IFAs. Membership of FEIFA is not available to all IFA companies, only members that are able to comply with a rigorous vetting and due diligence procedure are allowed to join."
MBL Financial will recruit two more senior staff in the next few weeks and there are plans to make more appointments in the coming months.
It has recently joined forces with Cowley Groves Financial Services and is working closely with it to assist its clients.
