UK direct-to-investor investment and online trading firm Hargreaves Lansdown PLC (LON:HL) announces that Chris Hill has informed the Board that having served as CEO and Executive Director for six years, he has decided to retire from the company.

The Board is undertaking a thorough and extensive search for his successor. Chris Hill will remain in role until his successor joins the Company and to allow time for a handover up to November 2023.

Chris Hill was appointed as CEO and the Board in April 2017. He joined the Company in February 2016 initially as CFO and then as Deputy CEO from October 2016 to April 2017.

Deanna Oppenheimer, HL Chair said:

“Chris has successfully led the company through a period of significant change. He is leaving HL as a stronger company, with a clearly defined strategy that the Board fully supports. Having started the implementation of the next phase of the company’s growth, Chris has decided it is time to pass the reins to a new CEO to continue to execute on this strategy and build on our market leading proposition. The Board is grateful to Chris for his leadership and looks forward to continuing to work with him on delivering the strategy and a successful handover next year.”

Chris Hill said:

“I have been privileged to lead the Company over the last six years through a period of growth and also an unprecedented time of change. I set in train a comprehensive strategy to ensure the company remains at the forefront of wealth management, including providing clients with the best digital tools. Having put in place strong foundations that are already delivering results, including an exceptional leadership team, it will be time after a thoughtful transition to hand over to my successor to take the company through the next phase of embedding this strategy.”