Life, pensions and investment mutual, Royal London has appointed Ronnie Binnie as head of strategic partnerships.
Binnie, who joins from Evelyn Partners, will become part of Royal London’s distribution leadership team and will play a key role in strengthening the group’s relationship with its strategic partners.
His career to date has spanned 35 years in the life and pensions industry, with much of his time spent in the advice sector in various adviser facing roles.
Commenting on his new role, Binnie said he is delighted to join Royal London at such an important time for the industry with the implementation of the consumer duty.
“The Royal London team has a real focus on building successful, mutually beneficial relationships, and I’m really looking forward to playing my part in contributing to that,” he added.
Prior to joining Royal London, Binnie was managing partner and head of strategic partnerships for Edinburgh and Aberdeen at Evelyn Partners.
He will remain in Scotland in his new role with Royal London, and will be based in Edinburgh.
Binnie will report to Royal London’s UK distribution director Siobhan Barrow.
Barrow said: “Ronnie is well-regarded in the adviser market and a strong addition to the Royal London distribution team. His breadth of experience and industry connections will enable us to work even more closely with adviser partners.”
She added: “Ronnie’s most recent role within a financial adviser business will be invaluable as we continue to develop our strategic partnerships, giving us an even deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities adviser firms face, and how we can support them.”
Earlier this month, it was announced that Royal London had purchased the individual protection book of Aegon UK.
Some 400,000 Aegon customers will see their life insurance, critical illness and income protection policies transferred to Royal London as a result of the sale, which is subject to court approval.
As a result of the sale, some 40 Aegon employees have been informed that their jobs are at risk.
Speaking to FTAdviser at the time, Royal London’s group chief executive Barry O’Dwyer played down concerns advisers raised about the impact the sale will have on competition in the UK protection market, instead saying most will have been relieved when they heard the news.
jane.matthews@ft.com
