Aberdeen Adviser appoints senior leaders to accelerate its next phase of growth

Aberdeen Adviser, provider of one of the UK’s largest adviser platforms by assets, today announces a number of senior leadership appointments to support its long-term growth ambitions. The appointments ensure the business has the right balance of leadership, expertise and accountability as it responds to changing adviser needs and an evolving market environment. They come as the business builds on progress across pricing, platform delivery and client experience, moving into its next phase of growth with a sharpened focus on adviser productivity, deeper integration and commercial execution.

As part of these changes, Ranila Ravi-Burslem joins as Chief Distribution Officer and Heather Curtis as Chief Client Experience Officer on 5 October. Aron Mitchell joined from Aberdeen Investments as Chief Financial Officer on 1 September. In addition, Jonny Black, currently Chief Client Experience Officer, has been appointed Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, a newly created role.

Ranila Ravi-Burslem will lead the sales teams and bring together accountability for distribution strategy, adviser acquisition and retention. She joins Aberdeen Adviser from Lloyds Banking Group, where she was Managing Director, Insurance & Pensions Distribution. Her career spans leadership roles across Lloyds Banking Group, Aviva and NEST, giving her deep expertise in pensions, intermediary distribution, customer strategy and commercial growth. This experience aligns closely with Aberdeen Adviser’s next phase of growth.

Heather Curtis will oversee client experience and assurance, with accountability for customer service and end-customer outcomes across the business. She joins with extensive experience spanning pensions, platforms, wealth management and retail banking. Most recently, she served as Operations and Service Transformation Director at Newcastle Strategic Solutions, leading a large-scale outsourced savings operation supporting 14 UK financial institutions. Her experience also spans M&G Wealth, Royal London, Capita and Bank of Scotland, giving her a strong track record in operational leadership, service transformation and customer delivery.

Aron will lead the Adviser Finance team as Chief Financial Officer, with responsibility for maintaining the strong financial discipline and commercial focus that have enabled Adviser to remain profitable and cash-generative , while positioning the business to capitalise on future growth opportunities. He will replace Louise Williams, the current Adviser CFO, who will leave Aberdeen to take up an external opportunity. She will remain with the business for a handover period. 

As Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, Jonny Black will lead commercial delivery and strategic execution, helping ensure the business remains responsive to client needs and market opportunities while continuing to drive growth. The role has been created to bring sharper focus and pace to commercial execution as the adviser market consolidates and buying decisions become more analytical and commercially driven, helping to convert Aberdeen Adviser’s improved proposition and client experience into more disciplined and predictable growth.

Rich Denning, CEO, Aberdeen Adviser, said:

"We’re moving into an exciting new phase for Aberdeen Adviser, building on real progress in pricing, platform competitiveness and client experience. These appointments further strengthen the Aberdeen Adviser leadership team and reflect our long-term commitment to advisers. Ranila, Heather, Aron and Jonny each bring deep industry expertise, proven leadership credentials and a shared focus on delivering great outcomes for advisers and their clients, as we move into this next phase of growth from a position of strength.

The advice market continues to evolve, creating significant opportunities for businesses that can combine scale with the ability to innovate, integrate and respond quickly to client needs. By strengthening our leadership team across distribution, customer experience and strategy, we are ensuring Aberdeen Adviser is well positioned, as an independent platform, to continue growing and delivering for advisers and their clients.

I would also like to thank Louise for her hard work, commitment and significant contribution to the Adviser business. She has been a huge support to me since I joined Aberdeen and leaves to take on an external opportunity with our very best wishes for the future.”

Commenting on their appointments Ranila Ravi-Burslem said:

“I’ve spent much of my career working with advisers, and seen first-hand the difference great advice can make. At a time of significant change, advisers need partners who really listen, understand their businesses and make it easier for them to deliver great outcomes for their clients.

That’s what excites me about joining Aberdeen Adviser. There is a fantastic foundation to build on, a trusted platform, an experienced team and deep, long-standing relationships with advice firms across the UK. I’m really looking forward to working with Rich, the team and our partner firms to build on those strengths, evolve what we offer and help advisers grow their businesses and better serve their clients.”

Heather Curtis added:

"I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Chief Client Experience Officer for Aberdeen Adviser. This is an exciting opportunity to build on the great progress already underway. Over the past few years, we have improved service levels and strengthened the experience we provide to advisers and their clients. By bringing our client servicing teams closer together, investing in new technology and continuing to simplify how we operate, we can deliver an even better experience for advisers and their clients. I’m really looking forward to working with colleagues across the business to drive positive change, raise the bar, and make a meaningful difference.”

ENDS

Media enquiries

Rachel Cashmore 

Senior Manager, Media Relations: Adviser and Investments

Rachel.Cashmore@aberdeenplc.com 

0734 170 3358

Notes to editors

About Adviser 

Aberdeen’s Adviser business provides financial planning solutions and technology for UK financial advisers, enabling them to create value for their businesses and their clients.

Adviser offers a combination of tools and services personalised to the needs of IFAs, including access to the full suite of investment solutions that Aberdeen offers as well as a wide range of open architecture investment options.

As at 30 June 2026, Adviser business managed and administered £84.8bn of client assets.

www.aberdeenadviser.com

About Aberdeen Group

Aberdeen is a leading Wealth & Investments group, working to help millions of customers and clients turn their financial goals into reality. As at 30 June 2026, Aberdeen managed and administered c.£579.4bn of client and customer assets across its three core businesses, interactive investor, Adviser and Investments.

www.aberdeenplc.com 

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and investors may get back less than the amount invested.

Aberdeen Platform Limited, provider of Wrap platform, is registered in Scotland (SC180203) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.