National equity release adviser Bower Retirement Services has appointed Chris Prior as its partnerships manager as it looks to expand in the South East and London.

He joins from Bridgewater Equity Release where he was manager for sales and distribution for seven years.

Prior (pictured) has also worked as a business development manager and area manager within the equity release industry. He has more than 35 years’ experience in financial services and started his career with Royal London.

His new role is to head the Bower Partnership referral and introducer business in the South East and London where Bower has identified major opportunities for expansion of its equity release advice business.

Higher average property prices in the South East and London underline the need for specialist advice, Bower believes.

Geoff Charles, CEO at Bower Retirement Services, said: “The South East and London are key growth areas for equity release and require a specialist approach which Chris is ideally placed to provide.”

Prior added: “The equity release market is going through strong growth and is an exciting place to be and particularly in the South East and London where higher property prices mean equity release is an increasingly attractive proposition.”