This week's Movers & Shakers

Who moved where in another busy week in financial services?

Openwork has appointed Paul Bridge as chief operating officer, replacing Mary-Anne McIntyre who was recently promoted to CEO. Bridge joins from Aviva where he was interim change delivery director within life and pensions.

Suvan de Soysa, the managing director of Bluefin Wealth Management who oversaw a restructuring of the business, has left the company to pursue "strategic consultancy options" in the UK and Australia. He has been replaced by Simon Hellier, previously the managing director of Oval Financial Services, part of the Oval Group.

MGM Advantage has appointed Simon Whitehead as chief financial officer. Whitehead, who joins from life and pensions consultancy 4Change, joins on 1 September.

Michael Dempsey has been appointed head of Mercer's Investment Management business for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and a member of the firm's EMEA executive team. Dempsey previously headed up Mercer's Investment Management business in Ireland.

Peter Gibbs has been appointed as an independent director of Friends Life Group. Gibbs was previously chief investment officer (non-US) at Merrill Lynch.

Jessica Brescia has been appointed head of legal of Skandia Investment Group (SIG). Brescia joined SIG in November 2009 from Dechert LLP.

Friends Life has appointed John Van Der Wielen as managing
director of international. Friends Life expects he will join before the end of the year.