New Chair announced for ABI’s Long-Term Savings Committee

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has today announced Susan McInnes, CEO of Standard Life Assurance Limited (SLAL) and director of open business at Phoenix Group, as the new chair of its Long-Term Savings Committee.

Ms McInnes, who has been with Phoenix Group since 2009, is taking over the role from the outgoing chair, Mario Mazzocchi, who has held the role since September 2017 during his time at Lloyds Banking Group.

She will also take a seat on the ABI’s Board.

The Long-term Savings Committee oversees the direction of all the ABI’s policy work in relation to pension savings and retirement. Current priorities include pushing for the delivery of the pensions dashboard and supporting customers to make the most of their new choices at retirement.

Ms McInnes was appointed CEO of SLAL following the completion of the acquisition by Phoenix at the end of August.

In addition to her role as CEO for Standard Life, Susan heads up the Group’s open business which manufactures life and pension products for new customers. She previously held roles in both the Phoenix Risk and Customer functions.

She was previously Chair of the ABI’s Long-Standing Customers Committee, and her successor there will be Prudential’s director of propositions Stuart Paton Evans.

Yvonne Braun, ABI Director of Long-Term Savings and Protection Policy, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Susan as the new chair of the Long-Term Savings Committee. She has been stellar in her role as the Chair of our Long-Standing Customers Committee and will bring leadership and invaluable experience to our work on improving customer outcomes. It’s great that in Stuart we have a very experienced executive to follow her tenure at the Long-Standing Customers Committee. I’m very much looking forward to working with them both in what is a busy and exciting time for the pensions industry.”

Susan McInnes said: “The Long-Term Savings Committee plays a vital role in shaping the direction of the ABI’s work to help people save for their future. I’m looking forward to working with my fellow committee members to develop policies for the long-term savings industry. We want to ensure customers continue to have access to the options and support they need from providers; understand their choices and get a good outcome when they come to retire.”

Stuart Paton Evans said: “I’m delighted to chair this important committee and to help ensure that our sector’s products continue to meet the needs of our long-standing customers. We will be working hard to represent the sector to legislators and regulators while ensuring we continue to drive industry standards that work in the best interests of customers.”