AJ Bell : Rachel Vahey appointed head of policy development at AJ Bell

Rachel Vahey has been appointed head of policy development at investment platform AJ Bell with immediate effect.

In her new role Rachel will manage AJ Bell's public policy strategy, with a focus on Government policy and regulatory developments around pensions, investments, taxation and investment platforms. She will also be responsible for co-ordinating AJ Bell's work with industry bodies and policy groups.

Rachel will work closely with AJ Bell's head of retirement policy, Tom Selby, to represent AJ Bell at industry policy forums and help financial advisers understand how new legislation and regulatory developments affect them and their clients. She will also continue her work as an industry commentator and author.

Rachel was previously senior technical consultant at AJ Bell having joined the business in 2019. Prior to AJ Bell she worked at Nucleus and Aegon.

AJ Bell's previous head of policy, Gareth James, has taken on a new role at AJ Bell.

Rachel reports to Charlie Musson, brand and PR director at AJ Bell, who comments:

"Given the crucial role financial services plays in the lives of so many people in the UK, it's no surprise that we face a near constant stream of policy proposals and regulatory change. Rachel's knowledge and experience make her ideally placed to co-ordinate our policy work, with the purpose of shaping better outcomes for customers, advisers and product providers."

Rachel Vahey, head of policy development at AJ Bell, comments:

"We've seen a huge volume of regulatory change coming out of the FCA and other Government departments in recent months and there is no sign of this slowing. Many of these changes have a significant and direct impact on financial advisers and their customers and I'm looking forward to helping them understand the implications of any changes and lobbying for positive and deliverable outcomes which help people invest."