Trustguard hopes to more than double the number of ARs it has from 11 to 25 by the Summer and Harnett’s appointment is seen as a key factor in this process.
Previously a development manager at AXA, Harnett will be in charge of recruiting more ARs and also improving both the service and the performance of Trustguard’s AR network.
Tony Williams, compliance officer at Trustguard, commented: “Sam has in-depth industry knowledge in both the selling process and developing AR firms. We will use her experience to demonstrate to possible new ARs how Trustguard could help them, not just with compliance issues but also in developing their business activity and profitability.”
The network has made a number of management appointments in recent weeks to prepare for this campaign, including Gary Brown as commercial manager and Mike Knott as loan relationship manager.
Williams believed it had built-up the structures within the company to successfully manage this expansion and could offer ARs a competitive service.
He said: “We’ve spent a lot of time getting our compliance right and ARs are seeing they are not getting the support they need and are prepared to move to get a better service. We also have a number of directly authorised packagers who are looking to become ARs and we think we can support them with technology and a good compliance service.
“There are currently three firms we are talking to about joining us but we are not looking to grow too big in terms of numbers. We want to make sure we can retain our quality of service and we will always make sure the resources are in place to do that.”
