Back to Blogs
Shutterstock 553451416 (2)
Share this Article

Phoenix Group announces two appointments to its Executive Committee

  • Publish Date: Posted over 3 years ago
  • Author:by Alan Jarque

Phoenix Group has announced two appointments to its Executive Committee. Andy Curran will join as CEO Savings and Retirement, UK and Europe and group director Scotland, and Claire Hawkins has been promoted to the role of corporate affairs and investor relations director.

After more than 10 years with Phoenix Group, and over three decades in the life and pensions sector, Susan McInnes is to retire from her role as CEO of Standard Life Assurance and Group Director for Phoenix’s Open business later this year.

Based in Edinburgh, Curran will join the business in July and work alongside McInnes to deliver a smooth handover before she steps down in the autumn. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the Group’s open book and BPA growth strategy and enhance Phoenix’s position as a leader in the workplace market, helping customers throughout their journey to and through retirement. As well as the Open businesses in the UK, Curran will be responsible for our European operations and SunLife.   

He brings more than three decades of life and pensions experience, most recently as managing director at Aviva UK Insurance, responsible for Aviva’s UK Corporate businesses. Prior to that, he was UK CEO for Friends Life as well as holding senior roles at Prudential.

Additionally, Hawkins has been promoted with immediate effect into an expanded role of corporate affairs and investor relations director, responsible for Phoenix’s external relations activity, including the Group’s Sustainability strategy.

She has worked for Phoenix companies for almost 20 years where she has led a number of transformational projects and enhanced investors’ understanding of the Group and its strategy, notably contributing to Phoenix’s success in joining the FTSE100 index in 2019.

Executive Committee member John McGuigan, group customer director, will also play an increasing role in building relationships for the Group in Scotland.

Both Curran and Hawkins will become members of the Phoenix Group Executive Committee and report into CEO Andy Briggs.

Andy Briggs, CEO of Phoenix Group said: “Susan has been instrumental in the transition of Standard Life Assurance into Phoenix and setting the path for success in our Open business. On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank her for her service, and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.

“In Andy, a fellow Scot, we have an excellent successor. He brings significant experience of the life and pensions sector and an exceptional track record of delivering value for customers and shareholders. He will lead Phoenix’s Open book and BPA growth strategy and enhance our position as a leader in the workplace market.

“I’m delighted to welcome Claire to the Executive Committee. Her promotion to this newly expanded position reflects our commitment to enhancing our outreach to stakeholders and how central ESG considerations are to our operations. Claire has taken a leading role in many projects which have transformed the company’s scale and operations, and she will continue to drive development in the Group in this new role.

Adding: “Phoenix will become the UK’s largest long term savings and retirement business following the completion of the ReAssure acquisition. We will have a senior management team with the skills and experience in place to drive the business forward. I’m looking forward to working closely with Claire and Andy as we progress with our strategy and our ongoing commitment to being a sustainable business that successfully supports the needs of our customers.”