The California-based business has promoted from its own ranks.

Cetera Financial Group, the financial advisory firm, has appointed Adam Antoniades as its chief executive.

Antoniades has worked for California-based Cetera for many years, most recently serving as its president since 2014. 

"Adam has demonstrated a strong track record in leading transformation, serving independent financial advisors, driving results, strengthening operational risk and compliance, and innovating amid a rapidly evolving landscape. Adam's financial and business acumen, entrepreneurial and visionary mindset, integrity, and passion for the profession are distinguishing qualities considered by our board's search committee,” Ben Brigeman, chairman of the board, said.

Antoniades was a founder of First Allied, now a Cetera broker-dealer, in 1994, and served as its president and CEO for the better part of two decades. He was instrumental in helping the firm grow both organically and via acquisitions, including First Allied's sale to Wells Fargo in 2002. He serves the Financial Services Institute as chair of its board of directors. He was also on FSI's Political Action Committee and is a board member of Invest in Others. He kicked off his early career in financial services at Berkeley Administration, Inc, which is in Belgium, and at AJ Bekhor and Company, in the UK.

In March, Cetera bought Chicago-based Megent Financial, which oversees more than $640 million in client assets.

The Cetera Financial Group says it is one of the largest independent financial advisor networks in the US by number of advisors. The group encompasses, among others, Cetera Advisors, Cetera Advisor Networks, Cetera Investment Services (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions), Cetera Financial Specialists, First Allied Securities and Summit Brokerage Services.