The appointment is subject to regulatory approval. In the distribution director role, Smith will focus on growing the business, spearheading distribution and developing the mortgage and protection proposition for members.

The firm said it was embarking on a “programme of growth and modernisation to help deliver on its ambition to become the UK’s leading provider of services to advice firms”.

She will report to Sesame Bankhall Group CEO Richard Harrison and take on the mantle of distribution director on 18 November as well as join the firm’s executive committee.

Smith was most recently at Primis, where she worked for almost seven years as chief operating officer and then chief distribution officer.

Before that she was business operations director at First Complete, working at the company for nearly 17 years.

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Prior to that, she worked at Home of Choice and Allied Dunbar.

Harrison said: “With an established track record of success in growing strong client relationships, Toni is very experienced and highly tuned to the evolving needs of advisers and their customers, making her ideally placed to lead the future development of our network services and support.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Toni, as we implement our new strategy to become the proactive partner of choice for advisers throughout the lifetime of their business, helping them to start, run, grow and exit.”

Smith added: “Sesame is one of our industry’s leading and most established adviser networks, with ambitious plans, making the decision to join the business a very easy one. I’m excited about the prospect of working closely with members, colleagues, and industry partners to further develop and grow a strong and successful adviser network that supports its member firms – and their customers – and helps them to flourish.”