Date: 17 January 2012

IFD Appoints MMid to Spearhead its Partnerships Strategy

UK Innovative Financial Designs Ltd (IFD) is today pleased to announce the appointment of MMid Ltd (MMid) to spearhead its Partnership strategy.

Simon Marriott and Neil Montague (Founders and Directors of MMid) will be heading up IFD’s ambitious growth plans to build and maintain a high performance sales distribution culture, responsible for overseeing its distribution activities.

Iain Stamp, IFD CEO said; “This is a key phase in IFD’s growth and is an integral part of our Partnership strategy. It is important that we continue to build the momentum of the Partnership team to ensure this area of the business achieves its full potential. We intend to take full advantage of the opportunities identified and to ensure we develop wider Partnership coverage throughout the UK and overseas.

“MMid already have extensive experience of promoting our Life Settlement and Managed Currency solutions and Simon and Neil both have long, established careers in the financial services sector, with over 40 years combined experience. Importantly, they also have an infrastructure already in place to facilitate the recruitment, training and development of new Partners which will ensure our Partnership plans move forward quickly and efficiently.”

Simon added, “In 2010 MMid identified a need, specifically in the UK financial services market, for an independent distributor to promote alternative asset classes to IFA’s and institutions via a nationwide sales team of experienced Broker Partners. MMid has been working closely with IFD since the company formed in 2010 and so Neil and I are delighted to be exclusively managing distribution of the funds and services available from IFD.”

Also commenting on MMids appointment, Neil continued, “IFD’s product innovation and ability to bring cutting edge products to the market makes it a stimulating company to be involved with. Simon and I are thrilled that MMid have been selected to take on the management of IFD’s Partnerships and can already see many ways in which we can progress the Partner strategy. Our combined experience and skills set complement each other and fits perfectly with the way IFD wants to take their distribution network forward.“

Neil Montague, Founder & Director – MMid

Neil has worked in the Financial Services industry for 27 years. He spent the first 24 years of his career in a range of sales and relationship management roles for Aviva; For his final 7 years he was Sales Director with responsibility for sales from 4,000 IFA Firms, including the Top 50 National Firms. Prior to that, he was responsible for Aviva’s Partnership Division which had tied agreements with 27 Banks and Building Societies, serviced by in excess of 200 sales consultants. In addition, Neil was the Sales Director for Norwich Union International which sold Offshore Investment Products to Distributors throughout Europe and beyond. In 2009 Neil chose to leave Aviva to fulfil his ambition of running his own business, which he realised when he formed MMid with Simon in 2010.

Neil has vast amounts of experience and knowledge of building large sales teams and their associated management, and implementing specialist support structures to back their efforts in the market place.

Neil is married with 2 children and enjoys socialising with friends and family. He is also a keen golfer and an avid Liverpool supporter.

Simon Marriott, Founder & Director – MMid

Simon has worked in financial services for over 18 years as adviser, business owner and consultant. His early years were spent with large nationals; Hambro, Allied Dunbar and Zurich, where he achieved success in personal and team production. In 1999 Simon set up an East Midlands based IFA business which went on to be a top 100 firm with 4 regional offices, 74 staff and 15,000 clients. In his role as Commercial Director, Simon was responsible for all corporate clients and professional introducers to the firm as well as running his own team of advisers. Since selling his business in 2008, Simon worked as a consultant until 2010 when he set up MMid with Neil.

Simon’s experience and technical knowledge ideally suit him to the IFA market where he believes it is vital for sales professionals to understand the importance of the day to day issues firms face in running a business, not just the product details.

Simon is married with 3 children. He is a keen golfer and still enjoys playing and coaching rugby union.