The Lang Cat founder and chief executive Mark Polson has joined the board of Calton Wealth Management as non-executive director.
He will focus on helping the business grow and scale sustainably and keeping “at the forefront” of good business, industry and regulatory practice.
He will also help Calton on its journey to become an “industry leader” in ensuring clients are “empowered and fully confident” in what their planners do for them.
Polson brings a wealth of experience and skill to Calton, gained over 25 years in the financial services industry.
In 2010, he founded the Lang Cat, a specialist consultancy which analyses the financial services sector.
The business calls out poor practices, understands regulation and helps companies communicate what they do in a way that “means something” to clients.
Calton has grown quickly over the past two years through a mixture of organic growth and acquiring other IFA firms.
Along with continued growth, the business recently announced its plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its advice process to cut out “menial tasks” and allow its planners to spend more time with clients.
Commenting on Polson’s appointment, Calton founder and CEO Tom Ham said the business is “poised to do extraordinary things” in the field of financial planning, “from innovative technology that brings clients into the heart of the practice to genuinely revolutionary investment approaches”.
“We’re growing fast, and as part of that growth journey I’m excited to welcome Mark to Calton as our new non-executive director,” he added.
“His reputation, knowledge and insight into the sector is second to none and he knows what it is to start and grow a respected business in financial services.
“We share the same values of putting clients at the centre of everything, and of doing the right things even when no one is looking.”
Polson said that, after a long time of “sitting on the sidelines” researching planners and advisers and analysing the sector, “it’s high time that I put my money where my mouth is and got some first-hand experience of life at a planning firm”.
“Calton was a natural choice because it’s a firm with ambition, the firepower to deliver that ambition and most importantly the right values and attitudes,” he said.
“I’m honoured that Tom asked me to join, and I’m looking forward to helping Calton show that it is possible to scale a planning firm without compromising your principles along the way.
“I’m also looking forward to giving a number of providers a ‘hard stare’ from the other side of the desk.”
Video: Mark Polson and Tom Ham discuss the new appointment
