The Future of Distribution in Financial Services

Barry O’Dwyer

Managing Director, Retail Life and Pensions, Prudential

Biography

Barry was appointed as Managing Director of Prudential’s Retail Life and Pensions business in January 2009. He is responsible for the strategic development and growth of its pensions, investments, and retirement income products.

Barry joined from HBOS Financial Services as Products and Marketing Director where he was responsible for investment, pension and protection products through the Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Clerical Brands.

He began his financial services career at Standard Life and during 19 years with the company he held a number of senior management positions in both the UK and Ireland.

In 2006 Barry was appointed Managing Director, Marketing for Standard Life and delivered a new product and marketing strategy, which involved transforming the product range through the introduction of Group SIPP, SIPP and other capital efficient products and platforms.

Barry is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

Martin Davis

Chief Executive Officer, Openwork

Biography

Openwork is one of the largest financial advisory firms in the UK, with over 2,500 advisers, writing £300 million of premium in 2008. Prior to Openwork Martin was CEO of Zurich Financial Services’s Global Life Emerging Markets businesses, spanning Asia, South America and Middle Eastern markets. Martin also maintained overall responsibility for Zurich International Life, the offshore subsidiary of ZFS, as Chairman. Martin was also a founding Director or Zurich Takaful.

Previously Martin worked as Commercial Director for Sesame Limited, managing over 7,500 IFAs (25 per cent of the UK market). Martin was also a Board Director of Assureweb.

Before joining Sesame, Martin was Executive Vice President, of Corillian International Ltd and spent eight years working in various business management roles for Reuters plc. Martin also served in the Armed Forces for 10 years, reaching the rank of Captain, in many operational theatres including 5 years with Special Forces. Martin is a Non Executive Director of McKinney Rogers International, a leading strategy consultancy.

Simon Hynes

Director, UK Wholesale, Jupiter Asset Management

Biography

Simon Hynes joined Jupiter in 2002 and established the Strategic Alliances team. He is now a Director of Jupiter Unit Trust Managers and is currently responsible for UK Wholesale Distribution including Wealth Managers, Life Companies, Platforms and IFAs.

Prior to joining Jupiter he was a Sales Manager for Foreign & Colonial.

Simon started his financial services career after a short spell as an RAF Pilot and joined General Accident Life in 1989. He remained with Norwich Union group for 11 years fulfilling a number of management positions before specialising into Investments with Morley fund management.

Geoffrey Clarkson

Group Compliance Director, Tenet Group

Biography

Geoffrey Clarkson is Executive Director of the Tenet Group, one of the largest financial services distribution companies in the UK.

Geoffrey is a solicitor with a Masters Degree in European law awarded by Exeter University. After qualification, Geoffrey worked for The London & Manchester Group plc, an insurance and investment company quoted on the London Stock Exchange. He was legal adviser to the company and was then appointed Company Secretary and, subsequently, a Director. He has also been a Director of HSBC Global Securities Limited Japan and was also involved in an executive capacity with a number of investment trusts. Later he was appointed as Chief Executive of a centralised lender responsible for £1 billion of mortgage lending.

After his early career in industry Geoffrey joined Bond Pearce, a leading law firm where he was a senior partner and a member of the Board. During this period, Geoffrey created a financial services consultancy, advised a number of Venture Capitalist companies and was also involved in the establishment of internet trading platforms for various UK and European firms. He is a former adviser to the London Stock Exchange and closely involved in regulatory developments in the UK and the European Union.

He is now a board director of Tenet Group Limited, a leading provider of support and regulatory services to over 5,000 financial advisers. He is a frequent speaker at conferences in the financial services sector.

Recently he became a Board Member of the National Skills Academy.

Peter Mann

Chief Development Officer, Skandia

Biography

Peter, who has over 20 years experience working in Financial Services, joined Bankhall in 2001 as Business Development Director progressing to Managing Director then Chief Executive in August 2005.

Employment history includes: IFA/Pension Director for a large pensions firm in Glasgow and various management roles within Scottish Amicable & Prudential. As top salesman for Scot Am Peter quickly advanced to Sales Director.

As Bankhall CEO, Peter was an active member of the AIFA panel, lobbying the FSA, ombudsman, product providers and other market participants on behalf of Bankhall members. He was also a regular spokesperson on panel debates throughout the industry speaking on key industry topics and ensuring that the voice of Bankhall members and the wider intermediary market was heard.

In 2008, Peter accepted the role as Chief Development Officer within the Skandia UK Group, where he leads the market facing teams – marketing, strategy, sales and communications.

Angela Seymour Jackson

Distribution Director, Aviva Life

Biography

Angela is the Intermediary & Partnerships Director within the Distribution business unit of Aviva UK Life.

Angela is responsible for growing the IFA and Partnerships business and creating a sustainable financial model in each. She is also responsible for achieving the company’s market share ambitions in Collective Investments. Angela is a member of the Life Executive Team and sits on the Board of the Retail Collective Business, and Aviva Life International Offshore Business (Aviva UKIL).

Angela joined Aviva UK Life in January 2008 from the General Insurance side of the company, where she led both the Direct (NUD and RAC insurance) and Partnerships business.