07 January 2014

Legal & General Network today announced changes to its management team with two new appointments.

Stephen Smith, currently Director, Housing and External Affairs, Legal & General Network, moves to become Director, Mortgage Club and Housing.  Ben Thompson currently Managing Director, Mortgage Club takes on a new role as Director of Banks and Affinities within Insurance, overseeing the Group's Key Financial Services relationships in the sector.

The changes come as part of the wider re-organisation within the Group to better align the delivery of products and services to customers and intermediaries.

Stephen Smith assumes control of the Club, as a key member of the Network's Executive Management Team ensuring management continuity and on-going investment in the Club's future. Jeremy Duncombe continues his role as Director, Mortgage Club reporting into Smith.

Ben Thompson joined the Mortgage Club in 2007 and has been the driving force behind the Club's success, seeing it increase its market share from 9% to 28% and position the Club as the leading mortgage distributor in the UK. His new role will see him remain in the lending and banking market supporting the broader proposition.

Stephen Smith said: "The Legal & General Mortgage Club is central to our strategy in the housing and mortgage markets, bringing many benefits and value to various parts of the Group. Growth and innovation will continue and we are looking forward to a robust market recovery and to helping our partner firms through next year's regulatory change. We have an exciting future and an improving market to look forward to."

Ben Thompson said: "I am delighted and excited with the challenges of my new role and look forward to the opportunities that it presents. I would like to thank the many friends and colleagues that I have worked with over the years who have made the Club so successful and also thank the members and lenders of the Club for their loyal support. I am proud that the Club is a leader in a recovering market and with intermediaries well placed to go from strength to strength."

In further changes, Sue Pennington and Martyn Smith will be leaving the company, having both contributed significantly to the growth and success of the Club.  Stephen Smith commented, "We wish Susan and Martyn well for the future and thank them for their unstinting hard work for the Club team over the years."

Notes to editors

Legal & General's UK Risk business insures customers' potential financial exposure from death, illness, injury or household damage, and provides retirement annuities for individuals and pension schemes.

As one of the UK's largest and longest-established providers of life and other insurance products, and a major savings, pensions, annuity and asset management company, we use our experience of the UK market in the development of our presence overseas. We balance our existing international businesses in the United States and Europe with selective participation in the fast growing middle class wealth of emerging markets.

The information contained in this press release is intended solely for journalists and should not be relied upon by private investors or any other persons to make financial decisions.

Legal & General Assurance Society Limited. Registered office: One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA. Registered in England No. 166055.  

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