Friends Life appoints Peter Gibbs to group board

An investment professional with extensive knowledge and expertise, Peter Gibbs will become a member of the board's investment oversight committee.

With over thirty years’ experience within high-profile investment companies, Peter Gibbs spent sixteen years at Merrill Lynch and Mercury Asset Management Group. Up until 2005 he held a series of senior executive roles including co-head of equity assets worldwide and most recent, chief investment officer (non US) at Merrill Lynch.

Since 2005, Peter Gibbs has held a number of notable non executive director positions. These include board roles at Intermediate Capital Group plc, UK Financial Investments Ltd and Evolution Group plc. As well a notable investment management background, Peter Gibbs' wider financial services experience is also sympathetic to the demands of the new Friends Life business.

Sir Malcolm Williamson, chairman of Friends Life Group plc, said: "I am very pleased to welcome Peter to the company. Peter's enviable background will prove vital at this important juncture, with strong investment management key to the future success of Friends Life and upcoming industry developments to navigate.

“Peter will undoubtedly play an instrumental role as we look to advance the investment processes and capabilities of the new business. On behalf of the board we look forward to working with him."