About the Sesame Bankhall Group
The Sesame Bankhall Group was formed in 2009. It brings together the leading network, support service provider and mortgage club to create the UK's largest distributor of Retail Financial Advice.
Our unique blend of over 20 years regulatory experience and business support makes us the number one choice for thousands of advisers nationwide and accountable for almost a quarter of the UK financial advice market.
The new group brings together three leading brands within the Financial Services Industry:
- Sesame, the largest Appointed Representative Network in the UK, with over 3,000 advisers
- Bankhall, the largest directly regulated service business in the UK, supporting over 1,500 firms
- Premier Mortgage Services (PMS), the largest mortgage distributor in the UK, with over £45bn in applications generated in 2008
The Sesame Bankhall Group is the largest single distributor of financial services in the UK and today is accountable for almost a quarter of the UK financial advice market.
Group companies
Sesame is best known for operating the largest appointed representative network in the UK serving around 3,000 advisers. Sesame is renowned for being a forward thinking and market-leading network and was recently awarded the accolade of best network at the Professional Adviser awards.
Bankhall is the largest directly regulated services business in the UK, established in 1993, renowned for its compliance support and serves over 1,500 directly authorised firms.
Premier Mortgage Services (PMS) operates the largest mortgage club for directly regulated mortgage brokers in the UK. In 2011, it broke the £250bn barrier for completed mortgage business since its inception in November 1996.
Who's who?
Ivan Martin
Executive Chairman
Ivan'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.
Ivan 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 employing 3,000 people and supporting 1,400 financial institutions worldwide and became a member of the Misys plc Board.
Ivan 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 Ivan as Deputy Chairman of the AIFA Council.
Ivan 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.
Ivan is a keen golfer and avid rugby union supporter. He is a member of Leicester Tigers RFC and a follower of England rugby.
George Higginson
Chief Executive Officer
George has responsibility for leading the operating businesses of Sesame, Bankhall and PMS. He has over 20 years experience in a series of senior financial advisory roles, most recently as one of the founding directors of Intrinsic and Chairman of the Mint IFA Network. George has also run his own successful adviser practice.
George brings with him an exemplary track record in working with advisory businesses and has a passionate belief in the value of financial advice for consumers.