While SimplyBiz veteran Ken Davy might be rolling back his responsibilities, he’s not looking to retire completely any time soon.
As he approaches the tender age of 80, Davy intends to start winding down his duties, having spent 18 years as chairman of SimplyBiz.
Davy launched the company in 2002, has overseen its public listing, and has some five decades of experience across financial advice.
However, speaking to Money Marketing as he picked up the Outstanding Contribution to the Profession Award last week, Davy says this is by no means the end of his work life.
“I don’t think I’ll ever retire in absolute sense,” he says. “SimplyBiz as you rightly said is doing well and building, I mean its providing such a fantastic service for the firms that we serve and so even during the lockdown we’ve still been attracting new firms and new members. I am passionate about that. It’s not a passion that will go away.”
“It’s all about delivering value,” he adds. “We try and deliver everything they need to be compliant and successful. Now we’ve expanded into a whole range of other areas which are really exciting, particularly linked to technology and fintech. So that’s really exciting and I’m excited about it.”
Davy plans to stand down as chairman next year and will take on a deputy chairman role as he is succeeded by current non-executive director Gary Hughes.
“I will have less responsibility and that will enable me I believe to spend more time on the area I really love, which is helping the IFA sector be more successful,” Davy says. “So I won’t be disappearing I hope, but I will be stepping down to deputy chairman and my focus will remain on the IFA sector.”
During his career, Davy has also been involved with advice businesses like DBS and Sandringham, having started his career back at Abbey Life, and has continued campaigning on issues like regulatory fees throughout recent FCA consultations.
He remains chair of local rugby club Huddersfield Giants, and stood in last year’s general election in a bid to become an MP.
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