Vantage Finance appoints chairman

Vantage Finance has appointed former Aviva UK and Ireland life insurance chief executive David Barral as chairman.

Barral will be charged with growing the master broker’s business after it received investment from private equity firm Chiltern Capital in May.

Vantage said that he will be tasked with identifying opportunities to enter “new adjacent markets” when the time is right.

Barral said: “I am extremely excited to join Vantage Finance at a time when it is strongly positioned for further significant growth.

“Over the last 12 years Lucy and the team have established Vantage as a highly respected business in the intermediary market.

“It has an enviable reputation for its expertise, efficiency, proactive communication, and quality of service. I look forward to working with the team to build on this success and achieve our ambitious growth plans.”

Barral has a 35-year career in financial services and was chief executive of Aviva’s life insurance business until June 2015.

He is a non-executive director of LV=, non-executive chairman of Virgin Wines, a former chairman of the ABI Retirement and Savings Committee and a regular contributor to Speakers for Schools, the independent education charity.