Aberdeen Adviser has appointed four senior leaders as it moves into its next phase of growth, including Ranila Ravi-Burslem as Chief Distribution Officer and Heather Curtis as Chief Client Experience Officer, both starting on 5 October. The changes are designed to sharpen adviser productivity, integration and commercial execution across the UK adviser platform business.

Detailed in the announcement, Aron Mitchell joined from Aberdeen Investments as Chief Financial Officer on 1 September, replacing Louise Williams, who is leaving for an external role. Jonny Black, previously Chief Client Experience Officer, has been appointed to a newly created Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer role.

The structural driver behind the reshuffle is a consolidating adviser market in which buying decisions are becoming more analytical and commercially driven, pushing platforms to convert improved pricing and client experience into more disciplined, predictable growth.

"We're moving into an exciting new phase for Aberdeen Adviser, building on real progress in pricing, platform competitiveness and client experience," said Rich Denning, CEO of Aberdeen Adviser. "By strengthening our leadership team across distribution, customer experience and strategy, we are ensuring Aberdeen Adviser is well positioned, as an independent platform, to continue growing and delivering for advisers and their clients."

"I've spent much of my career working with advisers, and seen first-hand the difference great advice can make," said Ravi-Burslem, who joins from Lloyds Banking Group, where she was Managing Director, Insurance & Pensions Distribution, with earlier roles at Aviva and NEST.

"By bringing our client servicing teams closer together, investing in new technology and continuing to simplify how we operate, we can deliver an even better experience for advisers and their clients," said Curtis, who joins from Newcastle Strategic Solutions, where she was Operations and Service Transformation Director, with earlier experience at M&G Wealth, Royal London, Capita and Bank of Scotland.

Aberdeen Adviser is part of Aberdeen Group plc, which is headquartered in Edinburgh and trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker ABDN, reporting group revenue of £1.341 billion (approximately €1.59 billion) and net income of £398 million (approximately €471 million) for 2025, with around 4,000 employees.

For the sector, the reshuffle reflects growing pressure on adviser platforms to pair distribution and client experience leadership with sharper commercial execution as consolidation across the UK advice market accelerates.

Source: Aberdeen Group