New Model Business Academy (NMBA), the not-for-profit training and development division of The SimplyBiz Group, has announced the appointment of Tom Hegarty as managing director. 

Hegarty joins Simply Biz from Tenet where he held the role of head of business development, having previously worked for MetLife and Friends Provident.

Originally created to help advisers through the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review, the NMBA now has over 16,000 members. It provides support to help advisers develop their skills in new business areas and share best practice with others, in addition to helping advisers work towards professional qualifications.

Matt Timmins, joint managing director of the SimplyBiz Group, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Tom to the SimplyBiz team. He is a very talented individual who I am positive will fit in well with our young and dynamic senior team. I believe Tom’s previous experience working with advisers will give him a fresh insight into how to best develop the academy and grow its range of services.”

Hegarty added: “I’m delighted to be joining the SimplyBiz Group. I have a great deal of respect for the business and am very excited about my part in the evolution of the New Model Business Academy. The NMBA has over 16,000 members who use its services to help them develop themselves and their business. I intend to build on the solid foundations of the Academy and improve and enhance the range of services it offers to advisers and other professionals within the sector.”