Rachel Meadows has taken up the role of managing director at Sovereign Pension Services (SPS), the company's new owner International Financial Group Limited (IFGL) has announced.

IFGL completed the deal to buy SPS, the Wirral-based SIPP and SSAS administrator, on 1 March, and is in the process of re-branding SPS to IFGL Pensions. 

Meadows replaces Brian McPhail, who was part of the Sovereign Group and has remained within the Sovereign Group.

She has 16 years' pensions industry experience. She is a Chartered Financial Planner, as well as a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society.

IFGL managing director Mike Crellin said: "We are very pleased that Rachel has agreed to join us in what is a new and exciting acquisition for IFGL. This is a further step in the growth and diversification plans of IFGL and further evidences our commitment to the long term savings market."

Before her move to SPS, Meadow's most recent role was as head of proposition, pensions and savings at Broadstone, in Liverpool.

There, she led a team primarily focussing on defined contribution pensions, workplace saving and financial wellbeing, and spanning employer and trustee consultancy and worksite engagement. 

Meadow's previous roles have included delivering specialist pension consultancy and strategic advice relating to defined benefit and defined contribution pensions.

She has worked for CS Financial Solutions Ltd and Charles Stanley.

Meadows said: "The opportunity to be involved in shaping and scaling a SIPP and SSAS business really appealed to me, as having been on the advice side of the equation I fully understand how important it is that great quality product options are available to support individuals saving for their retirement,. 

"The culture of IFGL resonates for me personally, coupling a commitment to excellent service and quality solutions with ambitious growth plans. Pensions play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve their financial goals, and I feel adding pensions to IFGL's suite of solutions will enable us to deliver even better support for our adviser relationships and end customers."