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30 September 2009

David Elms is to step down as Chief Executive of IFA Promotion on the 10th October 2009 as a result of being diagnosed with cancer.  Karen Barrett, IFA Promotion’s current Marketing Director, will take over the role of Chief Executive from that date.

David Graham, Non-Executive Chairman of IFA Promotion commented:  “We are very sad to see David leave and it is with even greater sadness that he leaves due to serious health issues.  Our thoughts and support are with him at this time.  The Board and the broader financial services industry is indebted to him for the invaluable role he has fulfilled over the last 10 years.

“David has been a tower of strength in the industry.  He has worked tirelessly to promote the benefits and accessibility of independent financial advice to consumers, businesses and the media.  He instigated IFA Promotion’s unique online ‘Find an IFA’ search nine years ago and has focused on developing the core consumer search proposition via Unbiased.co.uk ever since.

“Under his stewardship, Unbiased.co.uk now attracts 60,000 unique visitors a month and, last year alone, helped match over half a million consumers with relevant professional advisers through Unbiased.co.uk’s award winning consumer marketing campaign bringing together PR, advertising, search engine optimisation, the placing of white label versions searches on 60 high profile partner websites, and third party links into Unbiased.co.uk.  A fantastic achievement and an invaluable service for consumers and the industry as a whole.

“He is also an innovator.  Earlier this year David re-branded Unbiased.co.uk as ‘the professional advice website’, the UK’s first dedicated portal to match consumers with a range of local, professional advisers including, solicitors and accountants as well as IFAs.

“Personally I will miss David’s boundless drive and determination to see through his aim of promoting true, independent financial advice to the public. Since I became chairman in 2003, he has involved me very closely in the business, which I have found challenging, interesting and very enjoyable but never boring.  His commitment to and enthusiasm for the best interests of the whole personal finance industry will be greatly missed.

“We know that IFA Promotion’s future will be in the safest of hands.  Karen Barrett has worked with David and with IFA Promotion for eight years and has been an integral part of steering the online strategy over that time.  David’s vision for IFA Promotion and Unbiased.co.uk will continue unabated.”

Biography of Karen Barrett

Karen holds over 14 years marketing experience, the majority of which has been in financial services marketing, having previously worked for Abbey and Bradford and Bingley. Karen joined IFA Promotion in October 2001 as Marketing Manager and was promoted to Marketing Director in 2003. Responsibilities include the planning and implementation of the overall marketing strategy across Unbiased.co.uk’s websites as well as developing IFAP's online presence through PR, third party agreements and utilising developing online technology. Karen is passionate about delivering the best service possible to the online consumer and believes the web is the perfect tool for consumers looking for professional advice. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

For further information pleases contact:

Unbiased.co.uk, the professional advice website

Unbiased.co.uk is the free and confidential UK-wide search service matching consumers with the most appropriate local professional advisers for their needs.  In 2008, Unbiased.co.uk fulfilled over half a million searches for local, professional advice. 

IFA Promotion, the organisation behind Unbiased.co.uk, is now in its 20th year, and was set up to promote the benefits of independent financial advice to the consumer. 

Unbiased.co.uk’s product provider sponsors

Registered Office: Unbiased.co.uk is the consumer brand of IFA Promotion Ltd, 90 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5UB. Registered in Scotland: No. 114606

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