The SimplyBiz Group has announced the appointment of Dave Seager to the newly created role of managing director of SIFA Professional, the division of the Group that specialises in helping advisers build professional connections with solicitors.

Seager, who was part of the team that launched SIFA Professional in 2009, was previously development director of SIFA.

Seager will focus on enhancing the way in which the specialist service arm delivers knowledge, support and practical assistance to financial adviser firms that are working with, or seeking to develop commercial ventures with law firms.

Neil Stevens, joint CEO of the SimplyBiz Group, said: “Dave is passionate about SIFA’s ethos of efficiently delivering high-quality and practical services to advisers. SIFA Professional focuses is on the outcomes firms can achieve and in helping advisers capture the enormous benefits that come from effective professional connections with law firms. I believe that he, and the very experienced SIFA team he will now lead, can be a real force in helping advisers unlock benefits and grow their business.”

Seager added: “As part of the original team that launched the SIFA Professional proposition, I am very proud to have seen the growth in both its membership and reputation. I am very excited to be taking SIFA Professional forward within both The SimplyBiz Group and the wider adviser market, in 2019 and beyond.”

It was also announced that David Ingram would be leaving his position as managing director of SIFA at the end of May.

Stevens said: “David was appointed as MD of SIFA with the primary purpose of evolving the compliance offering and developing wider services to support more sophisticated adviser firms. I would like to thank David for his contribution over the past three years”.