OK, let’s get straight to it. I’ve joined abrdn as Chief Distribution Officer and I’ve been asked by more than a few people why I’ve taken on the role.

There are three reasons why:

This combination is what makes us, us. Most importantly, these are the foundations for how we partner with you, your business and your clients.

Our number one driver

I’ve been in this industry a while - a long while - and I know that our job, putting it simply, is to support you and your clients.

Your growth is our growth, so our number one driver is ensuring your business grows.

For me, people are a priority. We’ve a hugely talented and committed team, where everyone – from the board down – understands the aim and is truly dedicated to delivering.

Our passion is palpable, and our focus is steadfast. We’ve been in this market forever, so we have a legacy. With that comes experience and knowledge and means we deliver with purpose and will continue to do so.

But let me be clear, I’m under no illusion that there’s work to be done. But what I see is a business that has all the right ingredients to be the leader, not just a leader, in the industry once again. And I want to be part of the team that gets us there.

Delivering for you and your clients

There are a couple more qualities of the business that stand out for me. The first is innovation. Again, as someone who was up until very recently looking from the outside in, I know that technological transformation at abrdn hasn’t always gone as smoothly as it was planned to. But this is a business that has shown it’s ready to embrace innovation and has the financial strength and ambition for continued investment.

And secondly, what I think is a real differentiator is abrdn’s operational strength. This is a deep-rooted business, and one that’s far more than just a platform – it offers a wealth of technical expertise, and a team dedicated to solving the issues that matter the most to advisers and their clients.

But at the end of the day, what clients really want is to know that their financial goals are being met – and abrdn is here to support you to deliver for your clients.

Looking ahead

My immediate priority is making sure that we have the right people, in the right place, to capitalise on these strengths.

First and foremost, that means getting the basics right, every, single, time. But it also means making you look great in front of your clients and being on top of day-to-day excellence while continuing to innovate.

I’m a big believer that, in this market, none of us can stand still, as standing still is moving backwards.

To all of you, I’d like to say “thank you” for being our partners and we're committed to continuing to deliver the experience you and your clients deserve, together. I’m looking forward to meeting many more of you in the weeks and months to come.

For more Adviser Insights from abrdn, go here.

The value of investments can go down as well as up and your clients could get back less than they paid in.

The views expressed in this blog should not be regarded as financial advice.