Harrison will join the firm on 2 January 2024 and at that point interim CEO John Cowan will return to his role as chair of the Sesame Bankhall board.
He joins from Wesleyan Assurance Society, where he has worked for nearly four years as chief distribution officer.
Prior to that, he worked at HSBC for around three years in various senior roles, including head of UK network and premier distribution.
Harrison also worked at RBS for nearly 13 years, most recently as head of fraud and chargeback operations, and before that he held roles at Skipton Building Society as a regional manager for around four years.
Sesame Bankhall: ‘The ideal person to drive future plans’
John Cowan, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Sesame Bankhall Group said: “Sesame Bankhall Group exists to support advisers in building quality businesses that deliver the best outcomes for their clients.
“Our focus has been on finding a dynamic, driven, and ambitious CEO who will lead the group for the long-term benefit of the adviser community we support.”
He added: “Richard has a great track record of helping businesses to evolve and grow, through clear strategies and successful partnerships – with employees, advisers, and customers always at the very heart of propositions.
“With a breadth of experience across all areas of financial services, it’s clear that he is the ideal person to help drive and deliver our future plans and established business strategy, alongside our experienced management team.”
“Richard enthusiastically shares our purpose and future vision. I very much look forward to working closely with him as together we help SBG and its members to thrive and grow.”
Harrison added: “Having started out working for an IFA, I’ve learned first-hand the value of quality financial advice and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives. Through its three market-leading brands, Sesame Bankhall Group is a strong business with a fantastic team in place that’s been at the forefront of adviser support for many years.
“I share their drive and ambition to deliver customer-focused growth for advisers and the business. I am relishing the opportunity to work with the team to help shape and deliver its next phase of development.”
