Sesame Bankhall Group has appointed Emma Thomson to head of protection development with a move to working with the network’s distribution team full time.
The firm said Thomson’s appointment is being driven by its belief that consumer need for protection advice has never been greater.
In her new role Thomson will continue to work closely with SBG’s group propositions director and wider team.
The propositions team is also being increased as part of SBG’s plans to develop and deliver a new range of protection services for advisers and their customers.
Thomson (pictured) said: “SBG is committed to helping more consumers become financially resilient through increasing its focus on protection even further.
“Helping more advisers successfully have those valuable protection conversations is so important, particularly in light of Consumer Duty, and my new role is a key part of this strategy.
“This new role demonstrates the group’s focus on protection and our commitment to further strengthening our offering for advisers and their customers.
“The role is building on a lot of what I was already doing; adviser engagement, training, events and content creation, but I’ll now be a part of our distribution team full-time.
“I’m really pleased to be stepping into this exciting new role, which will enable me to spend even more time working closely with adviser firms and assisting them in writing more protection business.”
Alex Beavis, group director of mortgages and protection at Sesame Bankhall Group, added: “Consumer Duty is placing a responsibility on advisers to avoid foreseeable harm for their customers.
“This, in addition to an ongoing cost of living crisis that’s increasing the financial pressure on UK households, is why we at Sesame Bankhall Group believe that an increased focus on closing the protection gap is needed now more than ever.
“As head of protection development, Emma will be working to help advisers and firms of all shapes and sizes rise to this challenge through focused support on protection awareness, education, training, and strategy.”
