ELGIN-BORN businessman Gordon Wilson has been appointed director of the professional body governing financial planning in the UK.
The Personal Finance Society (PFS) is responsible for 37,000 members of the profession, including 5000 chartered financial planners.
Mr Wilson (49) is managing director of Aberdeen-based Carbon Financial Partners, which was formed six years ago and now employs 40 members of staff in Perth, Edinburgh and Aberdeen’s Rubislaw Terrace office.
In November, the independent financial specialists – now one of the biggest regionals in the country and the UK’s Chartered Financial Planner of the Year in 2015 - will be opening an office in London.
On his appointment to the 12-strong, London-based PFS board, Mr Wilson, a former pupil of Elgin Academy who began his career as a graduate trainee with Standard Life in the Granite City, said: “This is one of the highlights of my professional career.
“I feel passionately about the importance of having high standards and about ensuring the right skills and knowledge to do the very best we can for our clients.
“The work of the PFS is closely aligned with how we run our business and this appointment reflects well on our staff at Carbon.
“There is, however, still some way to go before the financial advice profession as a whole is held in the same esteem as lawyers and accountants, and this role gives me an opportunity to contribute and be part of the journey.”
In November, Mr Wilson will be helping chair a two-day conference at the NEC in Birmingham, which attracts 2000 financial advisers from across Britain.
He said: “Operating under a Royal Charter, the PFS seeks to lead the financial planning community towards the highest levels of professionalism, encouraging the highest ethical and behavioural standards, with continual professional development and qualifications to benefit members and clients alike.”