SJP at a crossroads: Can CEO FitzPatrick reinvent the wealth giant for a new era?

First year marked by challenges and change

Sahar Nazir
clock • 11 min read

When Mark FitzPatrick officially took the reins as CEO of St James’s Place (SJP) last year, he inherited a group at a crossroads. SJP faced a critical moment: could it convincingly reinvent itself, or would lingering legacy issues undermine its efforts?

The UK's largest wealth manager has been working hard to modernise its image and rebuild trust with advisers, clients, and the broader public. Its days of ‘cruises and cufflinks' may be behind it, but the group has at times faced a rocky year both reputationally and for its shareholders under new stewardship. FitzPatrick, a former CEO of Prudential, inherited several challenges on taking the helm. Not least, getting on top of the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA's) Consumer Duty and salving reputational and share price fallout on fees and service. First appointed CEO designate in Se...

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