Ortec Finance is strengthening its ambition to expand in the UK wealth management and financial planning market with the appointment of John O’Driscoll as managing director of OPAL Financial & Wealth Planning.
O’Driscoll, previously divisional director for business development and advice at St. James’s Place Wealth Management, will oversee OPAL’s product development strategy. The platform, known for its intelligent advice capabilities, enables financial planners to deliver personalised, engaging, and scalable services.
OPAL combines institutional-grade forecasting technology with features such as automation, tax optimisation and real-time goal tracking. This allows advisers to simplify complex planning for clients, creating scalable and compliant services while maintaining personalisation.
With more than two decades of experience in financial services, O’Driscoll has a strong record of driving technology-enabled advice solutions. At SJP he spearheaded the rollout of AI and automation-driven tools that improved advice quality while freeing up significant adviser time. A Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, he is recognised across the sector for his expertise in integrating advanced technology with client-focused planning.
Ortec Finance managing director global wealth solutions Tessa Kuijl said, “Many of Europe’s leading banks and wealth managers already rely on OPAL to help clients feel more informed, confident and in control of their financial future. The UK is a hugely important market for us and John’s appointment underlines the scale of our ambition. His deep knowledge of the advice landscape, combined with his leadership experience and vision on utilizing AI and automation solutions for advisors, will be key to further develop OPAL’s proven technology to the next level for UK and global institutions, advisers and their clients.”
Mark Glover, Ortec head of UK & Ireland wealth management, added, “Our vision is to help UK wealth managers tackle the advice gap by combining human expertise with powerful and intuitive technology that makes complex planning simple. OPAL gives advisers the ability to bring advice to life through real-time forecasts and scenario-led planning. John’s appointment shows our intent to be the leading partner for firms seeking to deliver advice that is more engaging, more compliant and more client-focused.”
O’Driscoll himself emphasised the transformative potential of OPAL for the UK market. He said, “Financial planning is at its most powerful when it helps people see and believe in their financial future. OPAL does exactly that by turning data and projections into clear, personalised insights that build confidence and trust. Having seen first-hand the power of technology to transform advice at scale, I am excited to join Ortec Finance at such a pivotal moment and to help UK advice professionals use OPAL to deliver better outcomes for more clients.”
With a 96% client retention rate and partnerships with over 50 banks worldwide, Ortec Finance is already a trusted global provider of financial planning technology. The UK expansion represents a new chapter in its mission to make high-quality financial planning accessible at scale, combining human advice with innovative, data-driven technology.
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