Royal London has appointed Jon Fuller to lead its newly created specialist protection distribution team, following its acquisition of Aegon UK’s individual protection business.
Fuller joins from Aegon UK, where he was protection sales director, and will be heading a team composed of many of his former colleagues.
His appointment creates continuity for other advisers following the recently announced acquisition of the Aegon UK individual protection business. The acquisition involved the transfer of more than 400,000 life insurance, critical illness and income protection customers.
With a 25-year career in the industry, Fuller has been in protection-focused roles for more than a decade.
His new team aims to strengthen adviser support and provide specialist insight on business protection and complex estate planning requirements, and meeting new consumer duty requirements.
The names of the recruits from Aegon are not being disclosed as start dates are yet to be agreed. But Fuller will join Royal London on 19 June, with the other recruits to join over the next few months.
Royal London has also strengthened its underwriting team by recruiting several of Aegon’s high net worth specialist underwriters who will work in partnership with the specialist protection team to support complex adviser requirements.
They will join the existing specialist large case underwriting team led by Jo Robinson.
Fuller (pictured) said: “I’m delighted to be joining Royal London as they expand their position in the protection market. The company has a reputation for delivering excellent products with exceptional service in what can be an uncomfortable area of financial planning. I’m looking forward to supporting advisers to deliver compelling and cost-effective solutions for an increasing range of customers”.
Siobhan Barrow, UK distribution director at Royal London, added: “Jon is an excellent addition to the Royal London distribution team, and his experience will enable us to further strengthen our position in the protection market. We are also delighted to be welcoming members of the wider Aegon protection team to enhance our existing capabilities.
“Protection insurance can be often overlooked but the Consumer Duty will change this, moving it from a more transactional sale to become a much more integral part of the holistic advice conversation.
“We have the strength of proposition to support that transition in the market, and we have the distribution teams in place to ensure we can offer advisers the distinct support they will need.”
