Altrincham, United Kingdom - April 9, 2013, Altrincham, United Kingdom - Sesame Bankhall Group (SBG), a financial company, announces that executive chairman Ivan Martin is leaving after six years with the group.
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Mr. Martin's early career was spent in the large US information technology company, Unisys. From 1991 to 1995 he built up and ran the healthcare systems division of ACT Group, before ACT was acquired by Misys in April 1995.
Mr. Martin was Chief Executive of a number of Misys software businesses until he was appointed Chief Executive of the financial services division in 1996 (this included the IFA networks and general insurance operation). In 2002 he took over as CEO of Misys Banking Systems, a global software technology business and became a member of the Misys plc Board.
He was appointed Executive Chairman of Sesame in June 2007. He subsequently became Executive Chairman of Sesame Bankhall Group in October 2009, following Sesame's acquisition of support services businesses Bankhall and PMS.
In October 2008 the Association of Independent Financial Advisers appointed Mr. Martin as Deputy Chairman of the AIFA Council. He is also Chairman of FDM Group, a private equity backed IT services and training company, and a non-executive Director of the financial services technology company Avelo.
Current senior independent director of the SBG Board, John Cowan, will act as Chairman.
Mr. Cowan has spent more than 42 years working in financial services. He joined the insurer Scottish Amicable in 1969 and worked his way successfully through the ranks to the main board as Director of Sales and Marketing. Acquisition by Prudential saw Mr. Cowan established as Group Sales Director, involved in industry-wide issues and Director of IFA Promotions.
In 2002 he accepted the challenge by National Australia Bank to bring their successful Wrap and outsourced manager-of managers investment vehicle (MLC) into the UK- years ahead of its time! ■
A very active and complex mid-May weather pattern is set to produce numerous areas of severe weather, heavy rain, high winds, and anomalous temperatures through this weekend.