Howard was chief financial officer at SAGA for 15 years and guided the firm as it progressed from family to private equity ownership and through an IPO in 2014.
Lockhart CEO Jon Bowes said Howard would be a “tremendous asset” to the firm, which was established in August this year with five founding partners (pictured).
“He has a formidable track record in some of the world’s most competitive and most successful businesses, and I know we will benefit greatly from his experience,” Bowes said.
“Stuart’s passion for building businesses responsibly and sustainably is fully aligned with our own philosophy. I’m delighted he has accepted the role.”
In 2007, Howard also became CFO for private equity-back firm Acromas which acquired SAGA.
Prior to joining SAGA he worked at advertising group Cordiant Communications as deputy CFO and for 10 years before that at the advertising group WPP Group. Stuart qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG in London.
Howard said: “Lockhart Capital Management is a very exciting new entrant in the financial planning and wealth management sector, especially with their focus on providing quality advice to high net worth Individuals.
“I can see how this firm will bring a new dynamic to the industry and I strongly endorse the company values and its consistent focus on the customer.”
The five founding partners of Lockhart, Jon Bowes, Andrew Wilson , Chris Cole, Toby Alcock and Bryan Innes, met while working at financial planner Towry and joined forces to launch three offices in London, Leeds and Aberdeen.
Cole, Alcock and Innes are partners at the firm, Andrew Wilson chief investment officer and Bowes is CEO.
Robert Seachoy is a portfolio manager at the firm and Caroline Lyons has recently joined as head of fund research.
