Toronto-based Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) Wednesday announced that David Esfandi has joined the company to become chief executive of Canaccord Genuity Wealth in the United Kingdom.

Stephen Massey will also be assuming the role of chairman of the Canaccord Genuity Wealth board in the UK. In addition, the company announced Neil Darke’s departure, effective immediately.

Esfandi joins Canaccord Genuity Wealth most recently from Ashcourt Rowan, where he was a senior leader in the asset management business. Prior to that, he was with Deutsche Bank for nine years in a variety of roles and began his career at Goldman Sachs on the equities side.

Esfandi is a graduate of Oxford and Wharton School of Business and is currently an executive with Dwyer Asset Management, a well-known participant in the UK real estate market.

Massey, formerly principal and Founder of Eden Financial, joined Canaccord Genuity following the acquisition of Eden Financial’s wealth management business in October 2012. He sits on the boards of the UK Wealth entities.