The Personal Finance Society has confirmed the appointment of John White and Jonathan Rees to its board.

White has spent over 25 years in financial services, including time as a partner and head of financial management at Robson Rhodes, Bentley Jennison, RSM Tenon and Baker Tilly.

In October 2014 he became chief operating officer at Arthur J Gallagher Employee Benefits & Wealth Management.

Over the last few years he has also led on the acquisitions of financial services businesses, including Giles Financial Services, Hornbuckle Mitchell IFA, Vantis Financial Management and the Chancery Group.

Rees joins as a non-executive director, focussing on regulatory issues and promoting consumer interest, having originally been appointed as a lay director in April this year.

He is currently a lay director of the Lending Standards Board, a director of Ombudsman Services (energy, telecommunications and retail sectors) and the Employers Network on Equality and Inclusion, as well as a Trustee of Citizens Advice and the NACAB pension fund.

Rees has a civil service background spanning 35 years, with a focus on strategy, regulation, change management and partnership working. His last role was as director general of the Government Equalities Office from 2008 to 2013. Prior to that he worked in more than 10 government departments both in Whitehall and overseas, spending three years in the No 10 policy unit advising successive prime ministers on strategy and seven years in Brussels dealing with European negotiations.

Keith Richards, PFS chief executive, said: “We are delighted to attract such high calibre individuals who bring complementary skills, experience and insight to an already diverse board, to support the new direction of evolution the society is taking.

“John has top level regulatory and professional advice experience from a larger firm perspective, whilst Jonathan has an unrivalled knowledge of the way the government and civil service operate.

“Equally importantly, both appreciate the ultimate importance of providing the right outcome for consumers – further enhancing our stated policy of serving the public by guiding the profession.”