Former Swinton Group distribution director Richard Beaven (pictured) has joined Brightside Group to serve as chief operating officer.

The group COO’s arrival is part of the strategy set out by group chief executive Brendan McCafferty, whose plan for the insurance broker includes building stronger and deeper relationships with distribution partners in what is described as an increasingly digitised industry.

Read more: Brightside CEO: “It’s time to concentrate on growing our business”

“I have made clear that to thrive and prosper in the future, brokers need to build scale, to be active in niche business, and to fully embrace digital,” stated McCafferty, who is keen to further enhance Brightside’s service to customers and pointed to the senior recruit’s successful track record.

“Brightside is now some distance along the path to becoming fully digitised, but with Richard on board as group COO we can give additional focus to executing this part of our strategy in full and across the group.”

Beaven’s financial services experience spans senior roles at Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Bank of New York, and Reuters.

“I’m excited to be joining Brendan and the Brightside team,” commented the new chief operating officer, who is also a trustee at LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) charity Stonewall.

“The group has a clearly defined strategy, so my role is all about execution, and overseeing the further digital transformation of the business – culturally as well as operationally – into a digital broker fit for the next decade.”