South African financial services group Sanlam has reorganised its wealth operations in the UK.

Sanlam UK is bringing together its private wealth and wealth planning businesses under a new wealth management division, aiming for better alignment of the divisions.

John White, previously chief executive of employee benefits and wealth management at Arthur J Gallagher, will lead the new division. He will also become CEO of the group’s private wealth business. Alex Morley, who will report to White, remains CEO of the wealth planning business. 

Morley will lead the launch of Sanlam Partners, a new initiative which will give culturally aligned financial planning firms access to some of Sanlam’s services, with a view to these firms potentially becoming part of the group at a later stage. The partnership programme will be launched in January.

Meanwhile, Alfio Tagliabue, Sanlam UK’s chief financial officer, will become CEO of the group’s asset manager, Sanlam FOUR. Tagliabue spent 12 years as a board-level consultant to asset and wealth managers, including Thames River, before becoming CFO at Ashcourt Rowan.

Succeeding Tagliabue as interim CFO for the group will be Jeremy Gibson, CEO of Sanlam investments and pensions.

Lastly, Graham Hooper, who previously worked at Miton Group, has joined Sanlam UK as distribution director.

Jonathan Polin, group CEO of Sanlam UK, said: “My aim is to create a unified, integrated financial services business recognised for the quality of its advice, asset and discretionary fund management services. I am delighted to be announcing so many strong additions to the Sanlam Group today along with initiatives that I firmly believe will help deliver an even better service to clients.”