NUCLEUS Financial, the Edinburgh-based investment platform group, has lured its former chief operating officer Andrew Smith back from insurer-owned Axa Wealth Elevate to become chief technology officer.

Aberdeen graduate Mr Smith was chief operating officer at Nucleus for four years and led the design and build of the award-winning Nucleus platform. He was poached by Axa in 2012 to take the same role at its platform business. He previously worked for Logica in Australia and US telecoms group Pingtel.

His appointment is the second recent senior hire at Nucleus, following Doug Heron's recruitment from Adam & Co as chief financial officer. Stuart Geard, chief executive, said the role had attracted star candidates and the firm was "truly delighted" at Mr Smith's return.