Hargreaves Lansdown (HL), the Bristol-based investment platform, has reshuffled its senior leadership team with two new hires from asset manager Vanguard. Charles Thompson joins as chief technology officer and Michael Finnegan as chief transformation officer, both effective September 1, subject to regulatory approval.
New appointments from Vanguard
Thompson, previously principal and divisional CIO for advice and wealth management at Vanguard, also led technology at Vanguard International across APAC, Europe and the Americas. Before Vanguard, he held senior technology leadership roles at National Australia Bank. He will be based in Bristol.
Finnegan most recently served as head of wealth planning and partnerships at Vanguard, with prior roles including head of international strategy and chief of staff for Vanguard's International business, and CFO for the Americas. He will also be based in Bristol.
Outgoing executives
The pair will replace Richard Hebdon, current chief digital and technology officer, and Darren Worth, chief strategy and transformation officer, who will leave HL later this year. Both will remain for a transition period, according to Business Live.
Leadership comments
Richard Flint, outgoing CEO and non-executive deputy chair at HL, said the appointments followed "a rigorous external search." He added: "We are delighted to welcome Charles and Michael to HL. They are strong leaders with deep experience across technology, transformation and retail investing, and they will further strengthen the executive team."
Flint noted HL would "combine the best" of its market position with lessons from the US, where technology, product innovation and customer engagement had "helped more people invest for their future." He stated: "Charles and Michael will play critical roles in that next phase." He also thanked Hebdon and Worth for their service, saying: "We are grateful for everything they have contributed and wish them both well for the future."
New executives' perspectives
Thompson said he was "incredibly excited" to join HL and was "looking forward to leading the build" of new technology capability within the business. Finnegan remarked that HL had a "major opportunity" to help more people move from saving to investing. "I’m excited to help deliver the change needed to support that ambition and help HL move faster for clients," he added.
