Who controls the UK's life industry?

Following Peter Mann's appointment as CEO at Skandia UK, IFAonline take a closer look at just who is running the UK life industry.

Peter Mann - CEO Skandia UK

Peter Mann joined Skandia UK in 2008 as chief development officer with responsibility for all of Skandia's market facing teams - marketing, strategy, sales and communications.

In total, Mann has over 30 years experience working in the financial services industry. Immediately prior to joining Skandia he was chief executive of support services provider Bankhall. He joined Bankhall in 2001 as business development director progressing to managing director and then chief executive in August 2005.

As Bankhall CEO, Mann was an active member of the AIFA panel, lobbying the FSA, ombudsman, product providers and other market participants. Prior to those roles he was an IFA and pension director for a large financial advice firm in Glasgow, sales director at Scottish Amicable and group distribution director at Prudential.

Andrew Moss - group chief executive Aviva

Appointed to the board in May 2004, Moss joined as group finance director and became chief executive in July 2007. Previously Moss was director of finance, risk management and operations at Lloyd's (insurance) and formerly held a number of senior management positions at HSBC plc (banking).

Nicolas Moreau - group chief executive AXA UK

Nicolas Moreau was appointed to the Board of AXA UK plc in July 2006. He is group chief executive of AXA UK and Ireland, and a member of the AXA Executive Committee. He is also a board member of the ABI and chairman of the ABI Health Committee, a director of the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain and the Hedge Fund Standards Board, UK.

Rob Devey - chief executive Prudential UK and Europe

Rob Devey is chief executive, Prudential UK and Europe and an executive director of Prudential plc. Devey joined Prudential in November 2009 from Lloyds Banking Group where he worked since 2002 in a number of senior leadership roles across insurance and retail banking. These included managing director, Direct Channels UK Retail Banking, managing director of HBOS Financial Services and managing director of HBOS General Insurance. Prior to joining HBOS, Rob was a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in both Europe and the US working in financial services.

David Nish - chief executive UK Standard Life

David Nish was appointed chief executive on 1 January 2010, having been group finance director since November 2006, when he was appointed to the Board. He is the first non-Standard Lifer to take the role in living memory. Previously the group had only appointed those who had been with the group for decades. He is also a non-executive director of Northern Foods plc and a board member of the ABI. David was previously a partner with Price Waterhouse, and subsequently group finance director and then executive director, Infrastructure Division at Scottish Power plc.

Michael Brennan - CEO Zurich UK Life

Michael Brennan was appointed CEO of Zurich's UK Life business on 1 October 2009. Prior to that he was CEO of the Life Business in Ireland for 23 years. Brennan studied economics at the London School of Economics and subsequently entered the insurance industry where he qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of Financial Services Ireland.

Trevor Matthews - CEO Friends Provident

Trevor was appointed director and CEO of Friends Provident Holdings (UK) Limited on 5 November 2009. He is chairman of the Financial Services Skills Council and a director of the ABI, the CII and the International Insurance Society.

He was formerly chief executive of Standard Life Assurance Limited. Prior to joining Standard Life in 2004, he held two key positions at Manulife Financial Corporation - executive vice president in Canada and subsequently president and chief executive, Japan. Prior to that, Trevor held senior positions in National Australia Bank and Legal & General Australia.

Otto Thoresen - CEO Aegon UK

Otto is the man behind the new Money Guidance Scheme, which he proposed after a wide ranging review of the generic financial advice currently available.

Thoresen was appointed chief executive of Aegon UK in April 2005 after serving as finance director at the firm from 2000. He started his career at Aegon UK in January 1999 as group development director.

Prior to that, Thoresen worked for Scottish Equitable, Royal Insurance and Abbey Life in a series of marketing roles. He has a first-class degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Aberdeen University and is also a fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries.