Guardian is pleased to announce the appointment of Gower Wisdom as Chief Operating Officer (COO) from 1 November.
Gower brings over 20 years of experience in life insurance and wealth management and has deep operational and commercial expertise. He joins Guardian from AUL Assurance Ltd, a specialist start-up life insurer, where he held the position of CEO, and formerly COO.
Prior to that he was Product Director at Skandia (part of Old Mutual Wealth and now Quilter), where he was responsible for the customer proposition and pricing strategy across the UK and international businesses. He led Skandia’s protection offering, consisting of whole of life cover and rolling term assurance, as well as the build and launch of its critical illness proposition in the UK. Gower is a qualified actuary with an MBA and a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Guardian CEO, Carlton Hood, said: “Gower brings a winning combination of operational rigour, actuarial know-how and regulatory expertise, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Guardian. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Gower before and know first-hand just how talented and values-driven he is. As Guardian continues to grow and challenge the market, Gower will play a key role in ensuring that, as our operations expand and the protection industry evolves, we remain strong and forward-thinking.”
Incoming Guardian COO, Gower Wisdom, added: “I’ve long admired this business’ bold and customer-centric approach to protection and its drive for better. For me, Guardian’s consistent track record of 5* service, as well as its market-leading proposition features like Payout Planner and the cover upgrade promise, clearly show how innovative thinking acts to move a market forwards. In my new role as COO, I’m excited to further scale a business that’s already setting the standard for both innovation and experience.”
Gower succeeds former COO, Duncan Mosely, who stepped down earlier this year. In addition to Gower’s appointment, Guardian has promoted Hilary Banks to Chief Commercial Officer. Hilary has played a pivotal role in building Guardian’s distribution footprint and commercial strategy to date.
Guardian’s Executive Committee
This appointment completes Guardian’s Executive Committee, now consisting of: Carlton Hood, Chief Executive Officer; Nischal Singh, Chief Financial Officer; Gower Wisdom, Chief Operating Officer; Hilary Banks, Chief Commercial Officer; Julie Speiser, Group HR Manager; and Ruth Starsmeare, Group Chief Technology Officer. The strengthened leadership team marks another milestone in Guardian’s journey to challenge the status quo and help grow the protection market.
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Notes to editors:
Press enquiries to Natalie Robinson, 07789 501146, natalie.robinson@guardianfs.co.uk.
Guardian Financial Services is an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
All products are provided by Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited and we have an agreement with them to underwrite and issue the protection policies we distribute through the UK intermediary channel.
As an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited, Guardian Financial Services Limited is the market-facing brand under which we promote our proposition and engage with advisers.
Background to Guardian Financial Services, owned by Gryphon Group Holdings
Guardian, the life and protection insurance business, launched in 2018 and pledged to grow the protection market. The brand promise of ‘Life. Made Better.’ reflects the company’s commitment to rethink and reinvent protection for the better; making sure customers get cover that’s easier to understand, simple to buy and designed to never let them down.
Guardian’s business partners
Gryphon Group Holdings is majority owned by Punter Southall Group as the largest equity capital investor. Guardian partners with UnderwriteMe for its Underwriting Engine, Liss Systems, the UK arm of Nasdaq-listed EXL, for its policy administration technology, and Space, for its front-end technology, branding and marketing. Guardian’s reinsurance partners are Hannover Re, Gen Re and Swiss Re.