Gazard (pictured) will work alongside CEO, Andy Thompson, on the distribution strategy for the group as well as leading the mortgage division of the network.
Gazard was managing director at SBG for four years, and was replaced by Mark Graves who held the position of sales director.
Beginning his career in the industry as a financial adviser with the Prudential and subsequently as an IFA, Gazard then spent eight years with a national IFA in a variety of management positions.
He joined Falcon Group in 2006 as commercial director, before becoming managing director in 2008.
In 2010, he was appointed as managing director of the Lighthouse network, following the merger of Sumus PLC and Lighthouse Group. He oversaw all aspects of the network’s key activities, supporting the integration of the two firms, before leaving for SBG in February 2013.
During his time with SBG, Gazard worked closely with Intrinsic on the integration of over 200 financial planners who joined the business after it was selected as the preferred partner for pensions and investment advisers following SBG’s decision to focus on its mortgage, protection and directly authorised services.
The position of group managing director is newly created. Intrinsic announced in 2016 that it would create three new business channels, each with its own managing director with full profit and loss responsibility. Nigel Speirs will continue to lead Old Mutual Wealth Private Client Advisers, with Stephen Fryett having oversight of the wealth network for investment and pension advisers.
Intrinsic CEO Andy Thompson said: “I’m delighted that in Stephen Gazard, Intrinsic has been able to attract a pioneer and leader of the financial planning industry to join our business. As a financial adviser who has since gone on to hold numerous senior management positions within distribution, he holds both the practical experience and leadership credentials to help Intrinsic continue to be the network of choice for professional financial advisers.
“Stephen will both provide leadership to our mortgage network and work directly with me on our broader distribution strategy.”
Gazard said his decision to leave SBG after four years as managing director was not one he took taken lightly. He added: “However, after speaking to Andy over a number of months and understanding Intrinsic’s plans for the future it represents a fantastic opportunity to be part of an organisation that truly sees all aspects of financial advice as core to its long-term strategy.”
