Ipac has appointed former American Express executive Libby Roy as its new general manager of financial planning.

Reporting to ipac chief executive Neil Swindells Roy will lead ipac's advice business, which encompasses ipac financial planning and ipac's equity partner relationships.

She will officially start at ipac on 12 April.

Prior to her appointment Roy spent 10 years with American Express, where she was most recently vice president and general manager of global business travel. Roy was previously also a principal with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton in San Francisco.

"In a period of industry change, we want new thinking. It is time to challenge convention and Libby brings a fresh perspective," Swindells said.

"Libby ticks all the boxes. She has expertise running, growing and evolving businesses drawing on experience across all management disciplines. We have found someone who we believe will be an outstanding leader in our business," Swindells said.

"Ipac has a reputation of continually evolving our advice solutions and with Libby at the helm I believe we are well placed to drive business success and deliver value to more clients in the future."

Roy replaces Sally Manion, who stood down as the head of financial planning after nine years with the financial services company.

Manion left ipac in February after the merging of roles in the business partnering team.

This announcement came on the back of the December 2009 departure of ipac head of business partnering John Saint, who left to take up the position of chief executive of Axa-owned dealer group Genesys.

Ipac chief operating officer Eric Gibson is acting head of business partnering until a permanent replacement is found.