Keith Richards will bow out as the CEO of the Personal Finance Society after eight years.
Richards (pictured) was appointed to the helm of the PFS in 2013 just after the Retail Distribution Review came into play. In 2016 he was subsequently appointed managing director of engagement for the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Under his watch membership at the PFS has grown to 40,000 individuals and 200 associate firms. He brought greater visibility to the financial planning sector working with the Financial Conduct Authority and government departments on key consultations including the implementation of pension freedoms and the regulator’s Financial Advice Market Review.
Richards was the architect behind several consumer initiatives including the pro-bono Moneyplan programme, which provides financial education in schools across the country, and has overseen the set up of the European Financial Planning Association UK mutual recognition qualification programme and the cross-sector Pensions Advice Taskforce and Financial Vulnerability Taskforce launched in January.
He also extended the reach of the CII by creating a fully-fledged Chartered Institute in Hong Kong in 2019 and launching PFS Asia the following year.
PFS president Sarah Lord thanked Richards for his years of contribution to the sector. “He has led the evolution of the society to the financial planning community’s leading professional body and, importantly, through his work with members, policymakers and consumers he has played a significant role in raising the profile of our profession, for which, we are all grateful.”
Richards will step down on 30 June.
