Edinburgh-based investment giant Aberdeen Group said it has appointed Richard Denning as the new CEO of its Adviser business.
He will succeed Noel Butwell, who announced his decision to step down from the role earlier this month.
“Richard has worked in the Adviser sector for over 20 years, holding a number of senior roles across client, distribution and operations,” said Aberdeen.
“He arrives from M&G where he has been CEO of its Wealth Platform, prior to which he had been COO at Aegon UK. Richard was also one of the founders of the Novia platform.
“The appointment comes with the adviser platform market evolving at great speed, with ongoing consolidation among advice firms, and intense competition among platform providers.”
Aberdeen’s Adviser business provides financial planning solutions and technology for UK financial advisers. As at December 31, 2025, the Adviser business managed and administered £80.4 billion of client assets.
Aberdeen Group manages and administers about £560 billion of client and customer assets across its three core business, interactive investor, Adviser and Investments.
Aberdeen Group CEO Jason Windsor said: “Richard’s deep understanding of the market and extensive transformation track record, combined with his strategic and operational experience, make him the perfect fit to take our business to the next level of performance.
“Following the successful launch of our market-leading Aberdeen SIPP, work continues at pace to further enhance our proposition, continue to improve our service to clients and return to positive net inflows.
“Against this backdrop, we are confident that Richard’s arrival will build further on the progress made in 2025, drawing on his detailed grasp of what matters to IFAs along with the technology that powers platforms.
“I am excited to welcome Richard to Aberdeen to realise our strategic priorities for the Adviser business.”
Denning said: “I am delighted to be joining Aberdeen Adviser as CEO, leading one of the sector’s key players with a strong proposition, a fantastic heritage, and a great team.
“I am looking forward to building on the work that has already been done to position the business for future growth and to ensuring we deliver the best platform in the market for our clients, at a time when technology and innovation continues to rapidly evolve.”
The change in leadership follows a number of senior hires at Aberdeen Adviser over the last 18 months, including Verona Kenny as Chief Distribution Officer, Louise Williams as Chief Financial Officer for Adviser, Derek Smith as the business’s Chief Product & Technology Officer and Mark Wilson as Adviser’s Chief Risk Officer.