Sesame Bankhall Group (SBG) has appointed Martin Schultheiss to the newly created role of chief operating officer (COO).

He will report to executive chairman, John Cowan and will work across the group’s three advisory brands – Sesame, Bankhall and PMS.

Schultheiss joined SBG in January as strategic implementation director and he now takes on a wider remit with responsibility for group strategy, operations, IT, HR, commercial and proposition development.

Cowan said: “Our business has made great strides in recent years. It is now time to build on our strong foundations and invest in the next generation of services for our members and clients. This will help to ensure their continued success, along with profitable and sustainable growth for our Group.

“With experience gained in financial services markets around the world, Martin brings fresh strategic thinking and energy to our plans. He will help us to write the next chapter in the future success of our business, by ensuring our market-leading brands deliver even greater value to advisers and their customers in these changing times.”

Schultheiss added: “SBG is a strong business with excellent people, and I have been impressed by the determination to move the business forward on to the next level. The Group is investing in its brands to help ambitious advisory firms to grow, whilst continuing to ensure they stay safe by carefully managing their risks.

“We will be successful by embracing the opportunities being created in the new digital world, and never losing sight of our profession’s entrepreneurial spirit and the core purpose we all share: to serve our customers well and deliver the right outcomes, so that they keep coming back.”