Wave of key figures leave embattled Rowan Dartington

Several key members of the Rowan Dartington board and management team, including its compliance officer and head of private clients, have quit the company over the past month, Citywire can reveal.

Yesterday, Rowan Dartington's owner Astaire announced it had found a £1.4 million black hole in the accounts of the Bristol-based wealth manager.

It is not clear whether the resignations have any connection to the financial issue which has caused Rowan Dartington's parent Astaire group to halt its planned acquisition of stockbroker Hoodless Brennan.

Rowan Dartington's head of private clients Sarah Tobey (pictured), who was a former Citywire Wealth Manager cover star, had resigned as a director on Monday, a day before the Astaire announcement.

Tobey had been been a key figure at Rowan Dartington, having been with the company since its inception in 1990 and appointed to the board in 2006.

Tobey is now serving her six month notice period.

Andrew Morris, another key director and founder employee of Rowan Dartington, has resigned from the board. Morris had recently launched Signature, a Rowan Dartington subsidiary that targets independent financial advisers who are looking to outsource their investment management. He resigned on 31 March. However, Morris will continue with his regular duties at the company.

Meanwhile, Citywire understands compliance officer Mark Winton had left Rowan Dartington in March as well.

Winton's stint at Rowan Dartington had lasted less than six months, with the previous compliance officer Stuart Emms having left in October 2009.

Over the past six months, several other key senior management have also left Rowan Dartington.