Chris Cummings.

Financial services professional body the Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) has begun the search to replace outgoing director-general Chris Cummings, who has left to become chief executive of TheCityUK, a new body set up to promote the UK-based financial services industry. 

The successful candidatewill also have overall responsibility for the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) and the Association of Finance Brokers (AFB).

An appointments committee, chaired by the Rt Hon. John Gummer Lord Deben, has been formed with representatives from AIFA, AMI and AFB Boards. The position is being advertised in the intermediary trade and national media. A shortlist of candidates will be drawn up post the applications deadline on Monday 12 July. Interviews will follow shortly afterwards.

Challenges

Lord Deben: leading search.

Chairman of AIFA, AMI and AFB, Lord Deben told ModernSelling.com: ‘On behalf of all the membership I would like to thank Chris for the contribution he has made to the whole intermediary profession. His skills in negotiation, representation and leadership have been a great asset to us all.

‘Chris and his directors have led the intermediary profession through some of its greatest challenges. With increasing regulatory scrutiny, both domestically and from Europe, the role of a representative organisation has become ever more difficult but also ever more important. It is vital that the IFA and broker professions have a strong, united organisation that is ready and willing to stand up for intermediaries. That is and will continue to be our role.’

Commenting on the search for a new director-general, Lord Deben said: ‘We are looking for an outstanding candidate with a thorough understanding of the retail financial services market. The intermediary profession faces a number of major challenges in the current political and economic climate. With further regulatory upheaval under way in the UK and the increasing influence of European policy we need an experienced individual who can lead the profession.’

Applications

Applications should be sent by email with an accompanying CV to Lord Deben at jsg@sancroft.com with the subject marked ‘Director General Application’. The closing date for applications is Monday 12 July. For further information about the position see: http://www.aifa.net/graduates/aifa-jobs-online.php

AIFA says its objective is to ‘play a critical but constructive role within the regulation process, offering insights from the "front line" of the market’. AIFA is a non-commercial, not-for-profit trade body, which exists solely to bring about a better business environment for its members so they can continue to serve their clients.

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