Hargreaves Lansdown reshuffles senior leadership team with two new hires

The Bristol-based investment platform has snapped up two senior figures from Vanguard

Bristol-based investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has bolstered its senior leadership team with two new hires.

The finance platform has appointed Charles Thompson as chief technology officer and Michael Finnegan as chief transformation officer.

The pair, who are both joining from asset manager Vanguard, have backgrounds in tech and retail investing in the US market.

They will replace Richard Hebdon, current chief digital and technology officer, and Darren Worth, chief strategy and transformation officer, who will leave HL later this year. Hebdon and Worth will remain with the business for a transition period, Business Live understands.

Thompson will join HL on September 1, subject to regulatory approval, and will be based in Bristol. He was most recently principal and divisional CIO for advice and wealth management at Vanguard, having previously led technology at Vanguard International, spanning APAC, Europe and the Americas. Before that he held senior technology leadership roles at National Australia Bank.

Finnegan will also join HL in September and will be based in Bristol. He previously held a number of senior roles at Vanguard, most recently as head of wealth planning and partnerships. Before that he was head of international strategy and chief of staff for Vanguard’s International business and CFO for the Americas.

Richard Flint, outgoing CEO and non-executive deputy chair at HL, said the appointments were made following “a rigorous external search”.

“We are delighted to welcome Charles and Michael to HL,” he said.

“They are strong leaders with deep experience across technology, transformation and retail investing, and they will further strengthen the executive team.”

Mr Flint said HL would look to “combine the best” of its market position with lessons from the US, where technology, product innovation and customer engagement had “helped more people invest for their future”.

“Charles and Michael will play critical roles in that next phase,” he added. “I want to thank Darren and Richard for their service to HL… We are grateful for everything they have contributed and wish them both well for the future.”

Thompson said he was “incredibly excited” to join HL and was “looking forward to leading the build” of new technology capability within the business.

Meanwhile, Finnegan said HL had a “major opportunity” to help more people move from saving to investing.

“I’m excited to help deliver the change needed to support that ambition and help HL move faster for clients,” he added.