7IM has announced the appointment of Chris Justham as Chief Distribution Officer, with responsibility for all 7IM Intermediary businesses.
Since its inception some 25 years ago, 7IM has been rooted in providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to financial planners and their teams around the UK. In this newly expanded role, Justham will lead intermediary distribution teams across the firm, with a mandate to deliver for and with our clients. Accelerated growth in partnership with financial planners is the overriding ambition.
Russell Lancaster continues as Managing Director of 7IM’s proprietary Platform and will report to Chris. The significant investment in the platform is now regularly rolling out new functionality and enhancements such as Client Reporting & Client Hub, Queued Rebalance, fully digitised user journeys and much more. Russell will continue to drive this change programme for our clients.
The appointment reflects the firm’s ambition to become a top three platform and top three model portfolio provider in the UK, building on sustained momentum and a significant increase in its total assets under management to c.£35bn (as at 31 May).
Dean Proctor, CEO at 7IM said:
“Chris joined the executive team in 2024, and is someone who stands by his word and consistently delivers for our clients, with a level of energy and drive that raises the bar for everyone around him. He has made an outstanding contribution to 7IM over many years, and this appointment recognises both what he has achieved and the scale of what lies ahead.
“Distribution is at the heart of our growth ambition, and there is no one better placed to lead it. Chris, having been one himself, truly understands financial planners, our clients and our proposition, and he has the conviction and leadership to take us to the next level.”
Chris Justham, Chief Distribution Officer at 7IM, said:
“I’ve dedicated more than 14 years to this firm, and in that time I’ve watched 7IM grow from a disruptive upstart into an established, trusted partner to financial planners across the UK. It’s been an extraordinary journey – and one I feel deeply personally invested in.
“What’s always driven me is a simple belief: this industry can do better at helping planners connect their clients with their plan. Not just the numbers, but the confidence, the clarity and the sense of progress that comes from genuinely understanding where you stand and where you’re heading. That’s the gap we can fill, and it’s where I believe 7IM has a genuine edge.
“Our ambition to be a top three platform and model provider isn’t just a target – it’s a reflection of the role we want to play in planners’ lives and, through them, in their clients’ lives. We have the proposition, the people and the momentum to get there.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and I’m more excited about what comes next than at any point in my career.”
