The Openwork Partnership has appointed Stuart Dodson to the new role of managing director to strengthen relationships with partner firms.

He will be supported by Liam Richards who has been promoted to strategic partner director to work with larger firms in the network.

Both the appointments come as it has been announced chief commercial officer Mike Morrow is leaving in February 2021 for a new opportunity after six years at the group.

The search for a replacement is well advanced according to the group that looks to be partnering with new firms.

Yesterday (16 November) it partnered with specialist broker Cura Financial Services to enhance its protection proposition.

Dodson is currently managing director at Newcastle Financial Advisers and is chair of Openwork’s Shareholder Council.

Previously he worked at Legal & General and the Money Advice Service during his 22-year career in financial services.

Richards joins from his current role as sales director at Owl Financial that is Openwork’s specialist protection advice business.

The Openwork Partnership chief executive Philip Howell says: “Our senior leadership team plans have been carefully managed to achieve the right combination of complementary skills to execute our strategy.

“We are delighted to be able to appoint Stuart Dodson and Liam Richards to their new roles and continue the evolution of our leadership team. We are sorry to see Mike leave and he does so with our genuine gratitude and best wishes for the future to a new personal opportunity.”