Meet the Succession Alliance Steering Group

Brian Benson - Owner, Crown Wealth Management 

With nearly four decades in financial services, Brian has held senior offshore specialist roles at Canada Life International and Clerical Medical before founding Crown Wealth Management Limited in 2006. After growing the firm into a respected Shropshire financial planning business, he sold it to the Perspective Financial Group in 2026.

Brian brings his recent experience of selling a financial planning business to the Alliance, providing a view on all matters from someone who has “been there”.

Daniel Bisby - Partner, Schofield Sweeny

Daniel is a Corporate Partner based in Leeds with extensive experience advising on complex M&A transactions within the professional and regulated services sectors. He specialises in financial services and is recognised for his work with both consolidators and vendors, providing commercially focused advice across highly regulated and evolving markets.

He advises on the full lifecycle of business transactions, including acquisitions and disposals (share and asset sales), management buyouts and buy-ins, joint ventures, private equity investments, refinancing, and corporate restructurings. Daniel combines strong technical expertise with a pragmatic, solutions-led approach, helping clients navigate both commercial and regulatory challenges to deliver successful outcomes.

Daniel regularly speaks on expert panels at industry events, sharing insight on M&A trends and developments within the independent financial advisory market.

John Chapman - Partner, Catalyst Partners

John brings deep experience in financial planning M&A, succession and business integration. A chartered accountant by background, he has held senior roles across financial services, including Managing Director of Torquil Clark, the national IFA business.

During his time at Torquil Clark, John led an organic and acquisition-led growth strategy, completing four acquisitions in eighteen months before the business was sold to Skipton Building Society in 2008. He later supported the continued growth of the business and its subsequent sale to national consolidator Bellpenny.

John now works with financial planning firms through Catalyst Partners, advising on strategy, acquisitions, succession and value creation. His experience as an operator, buyer, seller and broker gives him a valuable perspective on the challenges firms face when planning ownership transition.

Simon Hemley - Non-Executive Director, Financial Solutions Group

Simon brings over 20 years of private equity experience to the advice industry, having spent his career investing in high-growth, people-focused businesses across financial services and other consolidating sectors. He led the full deal lifecycle - sourcing, appraising, negotiating and integrating acquisitions - giving him a rare, hands-on understanding of how advice firms grow, change hands and build lasting value.

As a Non-Executive Director at Financial Solutions - the network for breakaways - Simon now puts that experience to work for advisers. Whether they're planning their retirement and succession or stepping away from restrictive arrangements to build a truly independent business, he helps them navigate the decisions that shape the next chapter.

Victoria Hicks - CEO, Melo

Victoria brings specialist insight into financial planning succession, business sales and the practical realities of preparing firms for transition.

As CEO and head negotiator at sell-side broker Melo, Victoria works closely with selling business owners, buyers and professional partners across the advice sector. Her role gives her a front-line view of what makes succession work well, where transactions commonly stall, and how firms can better prepare for a successful change of ownership.

Victoria’s own experience of selling a financial planning business, gives her a valuable perspective on the human, commercial and operational challenges involved in succession. She brings a practical, market-informed voice to the Succession Alliance, helping ensure its work reflects the real succession issues facing financial planning firms today.

Victoria regularly speaks on expert panels and presents at industry events on the trends shaping succession in Financial Planning and what owners can do to improve their exit.

Josh Lewsey - Group Strategy & Corporate Development Officer, Brooks Macdonald

Josh is an experienced executive working for more than 20 years across the finance and private investment industries in the UK and Asia-Pacific. He has recently returned from 8+ years living in Asia where he was an Operating Partner for Private Equity Transactions, a Regional CEO of a Private Equity portfolio company and prior to the that a Partner with Ernst and Young’s Strategy & Transactions Practice.

He has held leadership positions in Partnerships, Corporate and Privately owned companies as well as in Investment Banking and investing in growth stage businesses.

The above builds on a passion for team-based performance formed originally from an earlier career in professional sport and as a former British Army Officer.

Rich Wake - Chief Operating Officer, Intelliflo

Rich brings deep experience in financial services technology, operations and large-scale change, with a particular focus on the role data plays in successful succession.

As COO of intelliflo, Rich has a unique view across the financial planning profession. With intelliflo office used by over half the UK advice market, Rich and the intelliflo team have insight into the systems, data and operational foundations that sit behind thousands of advice businesses.

Rich has also been involved in many data transfers linked to acquisitions, consolidations and ownership change, giving him practical experience of one of the most complex and important parts of succession. His perspective helps the Succession Alliance understand the practicalities of preparing data, systems and processes for smoother transitions.

Rich brings a pragmatic, delivery-focused voice, helping ensure the Alliance’s work reflects the operational realities firms face when moving through succession.

Sam Ward – Head of M&A, Perspective

Sam is the Head of M&A at Perspective and leads the team at one of the longest standing and most active acquirers in the wealth management space.

Sam joined the Management Board at Perspective in 2024 and has 17 years of financial services experience, including 10 years as an M&A adviser. He joined Perspective from Houlihan Lokey (a US investment bank) and is also a Chartered Accountant.