Legal & General appoints retail boss in management reshuffle
Legal & General has announced two appointments to its group management committee, including the naming of Laura Mason as chief executive officer of retail.
Mason – who is currently CEO of private markets – will take up the position in December, succeeding Bernie Hickman who is leaving the company after a 26-year tenure.
She will bring group-wide experience to the role, having been part of the founding team of L&G’s alternative assets business. Before joining L&G, Mason spent eight years at Towers Watson, working as a consultant to major life UK life insurers.
Bernie Hickman – whom Mason will replace – has held several leadership positions at L&G including managing director of retail protection, group financial controller, investor relations director, managing director of individual retirement, CEO and co-founder of L&G Home Finance and CEO of L&G Insurance, becoming CEO of the retail division at the start of 2022.
During his tenure at L&G he has led the growth and development of businesses in workplace savings,
annuities, UK and US protection, equity release, and mortgage services.
Also taking on a role within the group management committee is Katie Worgan, who will join the business in the first quarter of 2025, taking the newly-created position of group chief operating officer. Currently managing director and chief operating officer of consumer relationships at Lloyds Banking Group, Worgan will lead L&G’s operations, technology, digital and data, procurement, property, and workplace strategies.
António Simões, chief executive officer of Legal & General, said: “We are making rapid progress on our vision for a growing, simpler, better-connected business. Today’s leadership appointments reflect our intention to continue to move at pace to implement our strategy.
“Laura is an exceptional leader whose knowledge of L&G and expertise across our businesses will help us further strengthen collaboration across our divisions to drive profitable growth in retail, while Katie combines a global, customer centric mindset and technical expertise with proven experience leading large and complex businesses through transformation. I am confident both will have a big impact in their new roles.
“I’d like to thank Bernie for his leadership and services to the group over more than two decades, and for his contribution over the past year as we have formulated our strategy for the future and positioned retail for growth. He leaves the business in excellent shape and I and everyone at L&G wish him well for the future.”
Laura Mason, CEO designate of retail, added: “Our Retail businesses are foundational to L&G, reflecting our roots in insurance as well as being an important growth opportunity for the group as we expand our workplace retirement proposition. I’m delighted to be taking leadership of our talented team to deliver an exciting strategy that will see us deepen our support for customers throughout their lifetimes.”