Experience

Embark Pensions
• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Managing Director

  • Oct 2022 - Present

Zurich Ireland
• Insurance
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Independent Non-Executive Director (Life and Pensions)

  • Sep 2020 - Oct 2022


Aviva

• Insurance
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Mergers and Acquisitions Director

  • Mar 2018 - Sep 2020

  I led the due diligence and acquisition process for the purchase of Friends First.I ran the process to obtain authorisation from the Central Bank to purchase Friends First and to merge with Aviva Life (Branch), effectively a new company authorisation with associated detailed financial projections.Delivered cost synergies and commercial benefits in excess of the acquisition business case, with a payback of less than 3 years on the purchase price.

• Group Chief Financial Officer (Aviva Group Ireland)

  • Jan 2015 - Mar 2018

  I was the senior Finance executive in the Aviva Ireland Group providing oversight of the Irish Finance functions and optimising performance across the three local entities. My responsibility included expense management, managing capital efficiency and reporting of financial results.The key result areas of the role are:* Managing capital efficiency across the three entities and ensuring resources are deployed optimally* Delivered an increase in Group profits from €69m (2015) to €93m (2018) through strong expense management, a focus on efficient project delivery and implementation of profit generation initiatives.* Led the strategic review of Aviva Group Ireland entities, culminating with the sale of Aviva Health and UK Life International (UKIL).* Led the sale of Aviva Health and UKIL, negotiating sale price and terms and delivering transition activities.* Successfully led a Finance function of circa 100 people, improving staff engagement from 30% to 78% over the period.* Recognised the opportunity to improve profits and capital position through acquisition of Friends First and led the due diligence process and developed the business case approved by Aviva Group plc. Show less

• MD Aviva Life and Pensions Ireland

  • Dec 2012 - Dec 2014

  I was Managing Director of Aviva Life and Pensions (Ireland), a company with annual revenues of c€600m and assets in excess of €6bn.In addition to the standard duties of the role I lead the organisation through a transformation program following a strategic review in 2013. This review focused on trading, capital efficiency and organisational structure. At the end of 2014 ALPI successfully completed the Court process to become a branch of Aviva UK Life with associated capital and financial benefits.Other key outcomes of the transformation were:* A return to profitable value of new business in 2013 after 5 previous years of losses* >80% growth in value of new business 2014 vs 2013* Expenses reduced by >25%* Over two thirds of capital in the business in 2012 repatriated to Group by end 2014* Increasing IFRS profits over the periodIn addition to the structural transformation of the business there was a key focus on the trading outcome. The focus on risk products (Protection and Annuities) drove the increase in Value of New Business, with Market Shares in both products increasing to c15% from virtual standing starts.In 2013 ALPI won the "Most Improved Insurer Award" at the Irish Broker Association awards, and at the end of 2014 we won the "Innovation in Pensions Award" at the Irish Pension Awards for our Enhanced Annuity Proposition which I led to market in under 3 months. Show less

• Trading and Pricing Director

  • Dec 2009 - Dec 2012

  I held a senior management position with specific responsibities for Pricing Decisions across all propositions, Trading Performance, Insurance Risk and Solvency II embedding.I managed a team of 20 professionals who desigend and supported the Pricing and Trading Framework within Aviva resulting in a doubling of new business profitability during my tenure.

• Head of Protection Pricing

  • Apr 2007 - Dec 2009

  I led the Protection Pricing team with particular responsibility for Pricing, Reinsurance (E2E) and Underwriting Philosophy.Played a key role in pricing distribution deals that Aviva have recently announced to the market.

• Stochastic Modelling Manager

  • May 2002 - Apr 2007

  Initially led a team building the Stochastic Modelling functionality for Realistic Balance Sheet purposes. Towards the end of the role I led a team of internal actuaries and external consultants to deliver the Stochastic Modelling analysis required to support and achieve sign off of the Reattribution of the Inherited Estate proposals.

• Commercial Manager - Defined Benefit Pensions

  • Mar 1998 - May 2002

  I let a team of 5 actuaries responsible for the commercial performance of the Defined Benefit Pensions area.Key achievements include a restructuring programme to improve profitability and the launch of Aviva's Group Life proposition to the external market.



Area Life International Assurance Ltd.

• Ireland
• Computer and Network Security

• Chair of the Risk Committee and Non-Executive Board Member

  • Feb 2016 - May 2020

  Non Executive Board member and Chair of the Risk Committee for this entity transacting Life business in Italy. The entity was terminated via portfolio transfer in May 2020. Non Executive Board member and Chair of the Risk Committee for this entity transacting Life business in Italy. The entity was terminated via portfolio transfer in May 2020.



Aviva Life UK International

• Chairman Of The Board

  • Aug 2013 - Jun 2016

  Chair (PCF3) of the Board his Aviva Entity specialising in offshore bonds. Strategic review led to sale of this business in June 2016. Chair (PCF3) of the Board his Aviva Entity specialising in offshore bonds. Strategic review led to sale of this business in June 2016.



Hannover Re

• Germany
• Insurance
• 700 & Above Employee

• Actuarial Trainee

  • Feb 1997 - Mar 1998

  I worked in the pricing team providing support to tender opportunities and individual quotations from the Lloyds market. I worked in the pricing team providing support to tender opportunities and individual quotations from the Lloyds market.



Sun Life Financial of Canada

• United Kingdom
• Insurance

• Actuarial Trainee

  • Jan 1996 - Feb 1997

  I worked in the Product Development area and helped deliver a new Pension Proposition. I worked in the Product Development area and helped deliver a new Pension Proposition.