Coutts, the UK-headquartered private bank, has appointed Layla Fear as a wealth manager in its Birmingham office.

She will be responsible for developing new business across the Midlands, reporting to director Miles Plumb.

Fear joins Coutts from JM Finn & Co, where she was an investment manager. She has more than 12 years’ experience within financial services, having held investment management and analyst positions at WH Ireland Group, Alliance Trust and Standard Life. 

"We have always taken an advice-led approach and by being one of the first wealth managers to launch our Retail Distribution Review-compliant advice proposition last November, this has stood us in good stead in the face of the changing regulatory landscape," Plumb said.