Ignite lights on new leadership

Ignite, which is the former TOWER Financial Advisory Group, has appointed David van Schaardenburg as its new chief executive.

He takes over the role after the death of Fred Dodds last year. While Dodds was strong in the distribution space, van Schaaardenburg's background and experience is largely in the investment area.

Ignite chairman James King says the group is now largely made up of investment specialists.

van Schaardenburg previously ran IPAC investment research, now known as FundSource, spent time at NZ Funds Management and more recently was with Findex.

Ignite has around 35 members and operates as a collective with each adviser or firm looking to get their own Financial Advice Provider licence.