Wells Fargo Shifts Top Exec from Wirehouse to Indy Channel

Wells Fargo Advisors announced it has named Kent Christian, currently head of its financial services group, president of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, the broker-dealer affiliate through which Wells Fargo Advisors supports independent financial advisors. 

In his new role, Well Fargo said in a press release Tuesday that Christian will be “leading one of the firm’s fastest growing business channels.” He will report to Brand Meyer, the president of Wells Fargo Advisors’ independent brokerage group.

Danny Ludeman, the president and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors, said in a press release that Christian’s “informed perspective and leadership skills” will help make the company more attractive to “a growing number of entrepreneurial minded, independent advisors.”

“His appointment to lead our independent advisor business underscores the importance we place on serving the needs of independent business owners<’ Ludeman said. “It also affirms our commitment to the multi-channel model that provides choice and flexibility to advisors and clients.”

Christian joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2005 as president of its independent brokerage group, which includes Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. Most recently, he was president of Wells Fargo Advisors’ Financial Services Group. Before joining Wells, he was the national sales director for Raymond James Financial Services, the firm’s independent broker-dealer channel, based in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“This is an exciting time for Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and I am excited to help lead a team of talented managers supporting strong independent business owners in their efforts to serve their clients,” Christian said in a press release. “In many ways, returning to the independent brokerage business is like a homecoming for me and I look forward to leading this business at a time when its potential for growth has never been greater.”

Christian played an instrumental role in helping assimilate Wells Fargo’s financial services group after the company completed a series of acquisitions with Wachovia Securities and A.G. Edwards.

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