Hargreaves Lansdown has recruited two senior executives from Vanguard as part of a continued effort to strengthen its leadership amid ongoing changes at the UK investment platform. Charles Thompson and Michael Finnegan are set to join the Bristol-based company in September, taking on the roles of chief technology officer and chief transformation officer, respectively.

This move follows the appointment of Matt Benchener, formerly of Vanguard, who formally assumed the role of CEO at Hargreaves Lansdown this week. The British firm, acquired in March last year by a private equity consortium including CVC Capital Partners, Nordic Capital, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for £5.4 billion, has seen significant management shifts since the takeover.

Thompson, an Australian national, will succeed Richard Hebdon as chief technology officer, while Finnegan, an American, will replace Darren Worth as chief transformation officer. Both will relocate from the United States to Bristol and are expected to undergo transition periods with their predecessors. Hargreaves Lansdown described them as “strong leaders with deep experience across technology, transformation and retail investing,” with the hiring overseen by interim CEO Richard Flint. A company spokeswoman confirmed that CEO Matt Benchener was not involved in the recruitment of Thompson and Finnegan.

The departures represent a notable loss for Vanguard, the world’s second-largest investment management firm, which oversees approximately $12 trillion in assets. All three executives, including Doug Abbott who joined Hargreaves Lansdown as chief product officer after being recruited last year, previously held senior positions at Vanguard’s U.S. retail direct investment business.

Vanguard, known for pioneering low-cost index-tracking funds, faces growing competition in the UK market as Hargreaves Lansdown works to enhance its service offering. Since the private equity takeover, the UK company has implemented strategic adjustments amid concerns over market positioning and pricing. An overhaul of its fee structure scheduled for 2026 has already prompted some customers to migrate to competitors such as AJ Bell and Interactive Investor.

Founded 45 years ago by Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown, Hargreaves Lansdown manages assets worth around £190 billion and serves over two million customers. The recent recruitment drive and executive reshuffle underscore its efforts to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly challenging investment landscape.