Protection provider Guardian has recruited Vitality's divisional director Hilary Banks to the role of sales director.
Ms Banks will be responsible for maximising sales opportunities to take the company into its next stage of growth.
She will replace distribution director Andy Peters, who is leaving in December after four years with the provider.
Guardian is also appointing its marketing and proposition director Jacqui Gillies to its executive committee, with both roles reporting to CEO Katya MacLean.
Ms MacLean said: “I want to thank Andy for all he’s done for Guardian. He’s been with us since the outset, and his unparalleled knowledge and insight gave us the formidable kick-start we’ve enjoyed. We’ll miss him, but we always knew it was his intention to move on when we were fully established."
She added: "I have great pleasure in announcing that Guardian’s new sales director will be Hilary Banks, former divisional director at Vitality. Hilary brings with her a wealth of experience and demonstrable success in driving growth, most recently supporting the success of another great insurance brand at Vitality. She has the perfect skillset to grow on our current success.
“We also look forward to welcoming our own Jacqui Gillies to the executive committee as marketing and proposition director.
"Jacqui’s been responsible for building our brand since she joined in 2016. With her proven track record of success and experience of supporting advisers to grow their protection sales, she was the obvious choice to lead our marketing and proposition development at board level.”
Ms Banks said: “I’m extremely excited by the growth opportunity at Guardian. Andy’s built a strong, capable team and an impressive number of strategic agreements and panel positions in such a short time since launch. I’m really looking forward to building on these impressive foundations to take Guardian into its next phase of growth”.
Leading the distribution, sales and marketing team, Mr Peters contributed to the launch and early growth of the company, and was responsible for setting up the provider’s major strategic distribution agreements.
chloe.cheung@ft.com
What do you think about the issues raised by this story? Email us on fa.letters@ft.com to let us know.
