SIFA, part of The SimplyBiz Group, has announced that its chairman, Ian Muirhead, will be retiring at the end of March. 

Muirhead founded SIFA in in 1992 in order to encourage and support interaction between legal and financial advisers. SIFA now provides marketing, training, compliance and business development services to nearly 200 firms.

He said: “For the past 26 years, SIFA has been my consuming passion, and it has been a real pleasure to share the journey with SIFA members, on whose support and friendship I have been privileged to count.

“I am leaving SIFA in very good hands, and I believe that prospects for the alignment of the legal and financial disciplines have never been more promising.”

Neil Stevens, director of SIFA and joint CEO of the SimplyBiz Group, added: “Ian is renowned and respected throughout the industry, not only for his expertise and unique insight into the sector, but also for his passionate advocacy of the importance of financial advice. I, and the rest of The SimplyBiz Group board, would like to thank Ian for his tireless dedication to SIFA over the past 26 years, which sees him leave the company in a really healthy position, and wish him all the best for a long, happy and healthy retirement.

“I’m confident that SIFA’s board, led by managing director David Ingram, will build on Ian’s legacy and ensure that SIFA members continue to receive the highest quality customer service. SIFA already provides sector specific support built on its experience and continuing expertise, as well as core compliance and business support services upon which advisers can rely, and we have a host of new propositions in development to help our members remain compliant, successful and provide the best possible service for their clients.”