Standard Life has appointed Chris Hudson (pictured) to the newly created role of managing director of retail intermediary.
Hudson, who has over 30 years’ experience in the intermediary market, will lead an expanding intermediary adviser channel with responsibility for distribution strategy and technical engagement and support with the retail advisers across the UK.
This will include a focus on using cutting-edge technology to deliver increased levels of support for advisers.
He joins Standard life from LV= where he was responsible increasing its adviser market share, having previously held senior management roles at Aegon, Friends Life and Aviva.
He has an enviable track record of establishing new and innovative adviser propositions in established markets, and of developing new product categories in mature market segments.
He led the introduction of Variable Annuities to the UK, has created market-leading offshore bond distribution with UK advisers and led sales and distribution teams through significant servicing platform migrations while simultaneously doubling market share.
Since the acquisition of the Standard Life brand, by Phoenix Group in 2021 there has been significant investment in the business, as it looks to increase its presence in several key markets including workplace pensions, bulk purchase annuities and lifetime mortgages.
The Open division of which Standard Life is a significant part contributed £1.2bn of long-term cash generation in 2021 and has been identified as strategically important to the Group.
Colin Williams, managing director of pensions and savings at Standard Life, said: “The adviser market continues to go from strength to strength as it supports its clients to effectively plan their financial futures and manage life’s big events.
“Chris’ appointment is a signal of our renewed commitment to the adviser market where we intend to build on Standard Life’s long heritage and experience of working alongside advisers and their clients.
“Backed by significant investment we are laying the foundations to steadily grow our capability in the retail savings market.
“Chris will begin building our distribution footprint, recruiting the best in the business while creating a support and service focused offering for advisers.
“He has extensive experience across all aspects of intermediary distribution with strong relationships in wealth management, corporate and specialist practices sectors of the market and he’ll make a significant contribution to achieving our growth ambitions and as part of our leadership team.”
Hudson added: “This is a fantastic time to be joining Standard Life as the business benefits from significant investment and we begin to grow our presence in the adviser market.
“I look forward to establishing a market-leading adviser focused distribution team and to providing not only the product solutions but also the service and support they need to service their clients’ savings and retirement needs.”
