With the acquisition of Bristol-headquartered financial services company Curtis Banks, this has created an adviser platform with approximately £80bn in assets under administration.
Rowney said: "This makes us one of the largest, independent platforms but scale is only important because it allows you to make the investments you want to make.
"In terms of future M&A, I make no bones about the fragmentation of the industry. A number of our competitors in the market cannot invest and create the scale that is needed.
"While there has been consolidation, it is clear that more will happen in the platform world.
"I certainly get a number of approached from people waiting to be part of our story, but we are focusing on integration now."
He said it was also important to get that right. "A lot of people who have done consolidation in the past often kept things as separate brands and a distinct culture. That does not always work.
"I suspect the integration of technology and culture post the Curtis Banks purchase should keep us occupied for the next six to 12 months.
"I would like to think we could make another acquisition in 2024 but we do not need to. It would only be if it complemented the vision and added to our success."
Technology and staffing
In October, Nucleus told FT Adviser about plans to improve the technology platform, using the sizeable private equity backing provided by HPS, which bought a majority stake in Nucleus in March 2022, to invest millions in developing and expanding its service.
But another factor important to Rowney is having an "energised, motivated workforce", which is partly why the front line staff got 11 per cent pay rises in 2022, and £1,500 special assistance payments were made to staff as the cost of living crisis hit.
He said supporting staff was crucial to delivering great service and supporting advisers and their clients.
Part of Nucleus's focus on its people was to create the Nucleus Foundation in August, which as FT Adviser wrote at the time, would have a focus on helping improve diversity and inclusion in the platform world.
Rowney said the foundation has also been instrumental in helping staff members going through tough times.
"It is the right thing for us to be doing as an organisation. Staff genuinely know we will be here for them.
"We also want to use the foundation to make a difference in the community through support and matching fundraising, as well as focusing on improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry."
Some 40 per cent of Nucleus' leadership team are women, but Rowney said he wants to do more across the industry. "Look at the number of female advisers - there are still only about 19 per cent of them. If you consider the need to close the advice gap and the gender gap, you need to break with stereotypes.
