AIFA appoints David Severn as new director general

Former Financial Services Authority head of retail investments policy, David Severn, will become the Association of Independent Financial Advisers' (AIFA) new director general, it has been announced. Severn will assume the role from 1 February 2005 following former director, Paul Smee's decision to step down in December. The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries' (AMI) director, Chris Cummings, will also be given a new role as deputy director-general of AIFA, in addition to his current role with AMI. Fay Goddard, who is acting director-general at AIFA during the interim period, will remain director of policy.