Guardian has appointed Carlton Hood (pictured) as its new CEO, effective from 1st May subject to regulatory approvals.
From this date, Hood will lead Guardian’s executive team consisting of Duncan Mosely, chief
operating officer; Nischal Singh, chief financial officer; Hilary Banks, commercial director; and
Ruth Starsmeare, group chief technology officer.
Peter Mann, Guardian’s current interim CEO, and chairman since 2018, will be stepping into the position of non-executive chairman.
Hood brings a wealth of experience to Guardian, including 25-years in financial services.
Most recently, he was group CEO of Responsible Life, a leading equity release broker part of Royal London.
He previously held the role of chief customer officer at Old Mutual (Quilter), where he successfully launched major new investment and protection solutions.
Peter Mann, current Interim CEO, Guardian, said: “The board and I are delighted to welcome
Carlton to Guardian.
“His experience of driving growth and shareholder value, hand-in-hand with ensuring the right customer outcomes, make him a perfect fit for the next phase of Guardian’s journey.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with him at Old Mutual, now Quilter, and his motivation and
commitment are second-to-none.
“We look forward to benefitting from his proven track record of growing businesses in challenging market conditions and building teams that put customers first.”
Hood said: “I’ve always believed that financial services, done right, can transform lives. Protection is one of the most powerful examples of this.
“The UK life insurance market needs fresh thinking – not just to meet regulatory requirements like Consumer Duty or because of the Protection Market Study – but to redefine how protection works for customers and for advisers.
“Guardian has already built a reputation for service excellence and product innovation.
“Now, the next stage is to turn that strength into sustainable market leadership. I’m excited to join the team for the next stage of Guardian’s journey, ensuring we stay ahead of change and continue to raise the bar for customer outcomes in the industry.”
