Wells Fargo Advisors Picks Up New Head of National Sales From JPMorgan

Wells Fargo & Co. said Thursday it named Barry Simmons, formerly of JPMorgan,  to be the new head of national sales for Wells Fargo Advisors, filling the role previously held by Heather Hunt-Ruddy.

In February, Wells Fargo said Hunt-Ruddy, who had been with the wirehouse 26 years, would lead its new central division as the company streamlined its field leadership into four primary U.S. geographic divisions.

The change would provide more consistent results for the company, help it grow, and provide better service for clients, it said at the time, noting that the role of head of national sales would be “backfilled.”

Simmons will lead WFA’s sales and business development team nationally, advisor recruiting across all channels, branch communications, and advisor and client event strategy, the firm said Thursday.

He will report to Sol Gindi, head of WFA and of Wealth & Investment Management’s Client Relationship Group.