Key Retirement promotes new CEO to lead advice arm expansion

Will Hale, who joined Key Retirement Group in 2014 as Business Development Director, has been promoted to CEO to spearhead the expansion plans which will include significant investment in training through its Key Academy initiative aimed at bringing new advisers into the market.

Key also aims to strengthen partnerships with major banks and building societies to provide solutions for customers facing interest-only mortgage shortfalls and support introducers to refer customers who they identify need specialist equity release advice.

The firm will also invest in technology to help increase adviser productivity through integrating proprietary sourcing systems with lender and solicitor platforms.

The new initiative follows Key's £208 million acquisition by global private markets investment manager Partners Group.

Simon Thompson, CEO of Key Retirement Group, said: “Expert advice is central to the expansion of the equity release market as it grows to meet customer demand and we are committed to supporting the growth as the market leader.

“The acquisition by Partners Group is enabling us to increase investment and Will’s expertise and experience makes him the ideal candidate to lead the expansion of the advice arm.”

Will Hale, CEO Key Retirement, added: “Increasing advice capacity is crucial as Key grows in response to the strong customer demand for equity release. The adviser recruitment will include adding significant numbers to our telephone team as well as adding more face-to-face advisers to align with anticipated regional trends in demand.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with our corporate and intermediary referral partners and building on Key’s long track record of success in delivering consistently excellent service to an ever more diverse set of customers requiring specialist retirement lending advice.”