Keogh will spearhead the growth of Blackfinch’s MPS and TPS offerings as financial advisers increasingly seek outsourcing options

Blackfinch Group, a fast growing UK investment firm, has announced the appointment of Mark Keogh as Head of Asset Management Distribution, a key hire as the firm continues to expand its asset management capabilities.

Mark brings over 37 years of industry experience and joins Blackfinch to drive the growth of its Managed Portfolio Service (MPS) and Tailored Portfolio Service (TPS). His role will focus on delivering tailored investment solutions to financial advisers, as demand for outsourced centralised investment propositions continues to rise.

Mark’s appointment comes as more financial advisers seek bespoke investment solutions for their clients and Blackfinch is strategically positioning itself to meet this demand through its innovative TPS. Complementing the MPS offering, the TPS solution will offer a flexible and customisable approach, allowing advisers to better meet specific client needs. Mark’s wealth of experience will enhance Blackfinch’s ability to deliver these personalised solutions to advisers across the UK.

Richard Cook, CEO of Blackfinch Group said, “We’re delighted to have Mark on board at such an important time for Blackfinch. His extensive experience, particularly in the managed portfolio space and his success in building strong, trusted relationships with advisers, will be key to driving our next phase of growth. As more advisers look for reliable outsourcing options, Mark’s leadership will be vital to expanding our distribution channels.”

Mark joins Blackfinch after 13 years at Liontrust Asset Management, where he served as Head of UK Sales, Managed Portfolio Services. In this role, he was responsible for growing assets under management from £150 million to £1.5 billion, in addition he covered a range of distribution channels, including national discretionary fund managers (DFMs), national advice firms, networks, acquirers and financial advisers across the UK, as well as working closely with Research Tools.

“I’m excited to join Blackfinch at a time of significant growth and opportunity. The firm’s values transparency, adapt, evolve and thrive resonate strongly with me, and I look forward to working with the team to expand our MPS and TPS offering. Blackfinch’s unique approach to investment and its strong reputation in the market make this an exciting opportunity to drive further growth,” said Mark Keogh, Head of Asset Management Distribution at Blackfinch Group.

In his spare time, Mark can be found on track with other Superbike enthusiasts, and attending dog events with his show Cockapoo, Preston.

Research from NextWealth shows that the discretionary MPS market in the UK is worth £123.4 billion as at end June 2024, up from £96.2billion in June last year. This rise shows that advisers are increasingly seeking investment solutions that support their advisory and client goals, Blackfinch’s MPS and TPS products are well positioned to deliver this.