The Board
Ian Owen FIA, Chairman
Ian is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He was formerly Managing Director of Zurich Personal Lines, Managing Director of Eagle Star Life and Chief Executive of Eagle Star International Life. He has served as a director or Chair of many other Zurich and Eagle Star Group Companies, both in the UK and overseas. In addition, he has previously served as a non-executive director of AA Insurance, as a non-executive director and Chair of Endsleigh Insurance and Group Director at Liverpool Victoria. He is currently a non-executive Chairman of A-Plan, and a non-executive director of Canopius (a Lloyd’s underwriter) and Phoenix Life. He has been a member of the Association of British Insurers’ Life Insurance Council and Chair of the Medical Committee.
Ian was appointed as non-executive Chairman on 5 August 2008.
Stephen Groves FIA, Chief Executive Officer
Steve joined Partnership in March 2005 as the Chief Financial Officer and on 21 December 2006 was appointed as Managing Director. On 5 August 2008 he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
His previous role was as the Admin Re Senior Actuary for Swiss Re Life and Health where he successfully oversaw the acquisition of a number of life companies into a closed fund operation, including Windsor Life and Zurich Life. Prior to joining Swiss Re, Steve was the Head of Actuarial Services and then Executive Head of Business Development for Britannic Retirement Solutions. Steve’s other roles included working as Product Manager. Steve was a director of the equity release trade body, SHIP, and was also a founder member of their equity release working party.
Mark Dearsley ACA, Chief Financial Officer
Mark joined Partnership in February 2009 from Savills plc, the FTSE 250 property adviser, where he was Group Finance Director. Prior to Savills, Mark was Finance Director of Aviva Europe & International, the international arm of Aviva plc, the world’s fifth largest insurance group. He had previously been Aviva’s Group Mergers & Acquisitions Director. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), Mark joined Charterhouse Bank (now part of HSBC) where he spent 10 years, latterly as a Board Director.
Mark was appointed to the Board on 3 March 2009 as Chief Financial Officer.
Andrew Megson, Managing Director of Retirement
Andrew was previously Sales Director of Just Retirement where he held primary responsibility for the strategic and practical aspects of Just Retirement’s sales distribution and IFA communications.
Prior to this, Andrew held a number of senior roles with investment specialist NPI and successfully launched Britannic Retirement Solutions into the IFA market in 2000, being instrumental in positioning them as a leader in enhanced/impaired annuities.
Chris Horlick, Managing Director of Care
Chris began his career as a Royal Marine. Following the completion of his five-year commission he joined Barclays Bank’s Corporate Finance Division before leaving to set up his own international construction company.
He returned to financial services in 1995 joining Denplan and becoming its Managing Director three years later. He was appointed Sales and Marketing Director of AXA PPP Healthcare in 2000 where he was responsible for a department of over 500 staff, managing the distribution of consumer and corporate healthcare products and services in the UK and overseas.
Jane Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer
Jane has 18 years experience in financial services operations, spanning a wide range of disciplines including General Insurance and Investments as Customer Service Manager at SAGA and SAGA Investment Direct. Life and Pensions having held the post of Head of UK Customer services at Colonial Life and Head of Existing Business Life, and also Pensions and OEICS at Scottish Widows where she played a significant role in achieving a 5 Star Service Award. Prior to Partnership, Jane was Head of Customer Service for Global Home Loans managing mortgage administration and service centres in the UK and off shore.
Robin Houghton, Chief Actuary
Robin joined Partnership in August 2008, having previously worked at Synesis Life, a role which brought him into constant contact with the pension annuity market. Prior to this, Robin worked at Watson Wyatt as a Senior Consultant in the Insurance practice, a role which covered all aspects of financial management, merger and acquisition and marketing in the Nordic region. Before Watson Wyatt, Robin was the Deputy Actuary at Winterthur Life, the personal pension specialist. Robin is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.
David Young ACA, Non-Executive Director
David is an associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and sits on the Committee of the Institute’s Non-executive Director Special Interest Group. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He previously held the positions of Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive of a Stock Exchange-listed insurance broking and financial advisory group. As well as being a consultant to a number of insurance companies, he is currently Chairman of Annuity Direct Limited, an independent financial adviser within the Partnership Group. He has previously served as a non-executive director of a number of insurance brokers.
David Young was appointed as a non-executive director on 5 August 2008.
Robin Phipps, Non-Executive Director
Robin was formerly Group Executive Director at Legal & General responsible for the UK business, and previously held a wide range of senior positions, including Group Director - Sales and Marketing, Group Director - Retail, Managing Director - Customer Services and Director of Information Technology. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Friends Provident Plc and GE Capital Bank, and an advisor to Ernst & Young.
Robin was appointed as a non-executive director on 5 August 2008.
