Simplify Consulting adds Mark Andrews and Michael James as directors

Michael James and Mark Andrews have joined Simplify Consulting as directors in technology consulting and financial services respectively. The appointments come as the firm looks to expand its offering to clients.

Carl Woodward, co-founder and co-director of Simplify, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Mark and Michael to the Simplify leadership team. Both bring exceptional experience and a proven track record in delivering transformational change in complex, regulated environments. Their appointments mark another important step in our growth as we continue to build Simplify into the go-to independent, practitioner-led consultancy for financial services.”

Founded in 2014, by Kate Monserrate and Woodward, Simplify provides consultancy services across the wealth management, asset management and insurance sectors, together with technology implementation within each. The company has worked with some of the largest and best known asset and wealth management organisations in the UK.

Mark Andrews joins Simplify as practice director, following an extensive career in financial services operations and transformation. With over 25 years of consulting experience spanning wealth, investment, insurance and pensions, he has delivered strategic programmes of work across major institutions including L&G, Ageas, Medical Protection Society, Lloyds Banking Group, and LV=.

Andrews remarked on his personal LinkedIn, “I’m delighted to be joining the team at Simplify Consulting after a brief period of recharging the batteries. I’ll be joining the leadership team looking to build on a very impressive first decade in business. Let’s go!”

Michael James meanwhile joins Simplify as technology consulting director, bringing extensive expertise in management, business transformation, technology strategy, data and platform development.  With a career spanning both UK and international markets, he has worked with leading financial services organisations – from FTSE 100 firms to FinTech’s and specialised providers.

James said via a LinkedIn post, “Today, leveraging our collective experience and Simplify’s DNA, we explored a wide range of challenges with new and prospective clients: improving home insurance user experience, pension scheme onboarding, shaping data platforms, actuarial-as-a-service, wealth product distribution, and close to my heart addressing gaps in platforms. These are the kinds of issues we have been solving for clients for many years , and now we have the opportunity to do so with an amazing new team that I’m thrilled to be part of. I’m most excited to have the opportunity to combine our collective knowledge to deliver positive outcomes and real value for our clients.”

These strategic appointments reflect Simplify’s commitment to delivering a practitioner-led consultancy, blending deep domain expertise with hands-on industry experience to help clients navigate complex operational and regulatory change. To that end, the firm has recently expanded into the technology, insurance, and asset management, with new practices in each announced earlier in 2025, to meet increasing client demand.

Co-founder and co-director Monserrate, “Our success is built on the depth of practical experience our people bring to clients. Mark and Michael exemplify this. Their expertise and leadership will help further strengthen our delivery capability and continue to ensure Simplify adds real, measurable value across every engagement.”