UK direct-to-investor investment and online trading firm Hargreaves Lansdown PLC (LON:HL) today announced the appointment of Amy Stirling as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to succeed Philip Johnson. Amy Stirling will also join the Board of Hargreaves Lansdown as an Executive Director.

She is currently Chief Financial Officer of the Virgin Group where she has been part of the senior leadership team since September 2016. Ms Stirling is a qualified chartered accountant with extensive financial leadership, management and board experience.

Amy Stirling will join Hargreaves Lansdown on 21 February 2022 and will join the Board on the same date. Philip Johnson announced on 29 July 2021 his intention to step down from the Company and will step down from the Board on 31 January 2022. He will remain available to assist with an orderly handover of responsibilities until he leaves Hargreaves Lansdown on 31 May 2022.

Ms Stirling is currently a Non-Executive Director and member of the Governance and Nomination Committee at Virgin Money UK PLC and a Non-Executive Director of RIT Capital Partners plc where she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. She will step down from both boards by summer 2022 on a date to be agreed.

Her previous appointments include CFO of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at the UK Cabinet Office, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Pets At Home Group plc and CFO of The Prince’s Trust.

Commenting on the appointment Chris Hill, CEO at Hargreaves Lansdown, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Amy Stirling to Hargreaves Lansdown. Amy has over 20 years of strategic financial management and brand experience across a range of sectors and will bring new perspectives to our business. This is an exciting time for Hargreaves Lansdown as we continue to invest in and advance our client proposition and service to capture the significant growth opportunity in our markets and I am very much looking forward to working with Amy as we execute on this strategy.”

Amy Stirling said:

“The entrepreneurial roots and client service culture of Hargreaves Lansdown combined with a growing addressable market makes it a really exciting company to be joining. I am looking forward to working with Chris and the team to help play a part in its next chapter of growth.”