John Hastings-Bass
Group Chair
John Hastings-Bass
Group Chair
John brings over 40 years of business experience in the insurance and reinsurance sectors and has undertaken the role of Chair in publicly quoted and privately owned businesses. He currently holds the role of Chair of BMS Group Limited, part of the private equity backed global insurance broking group and, until 2017, was Chair of publicly quoted Novae Group plc.
John began his career in Hong Kong with Jardine Matheson in 1976. He moved to London and was latterly a Director of JLT Group and Chief Executive Officer of International Business Group. He joined Arthur J. Gallagher in 2007 as Chairman of International Development, leading the Asia Pacific business. He joined the Board of Novae Group plc in May 2007 and was appointed as Chair in May 2008. In January 2015, John was appointed Non-Executive Chair of BMS Group and in October 2022, he was appointed Chair of Dale Management Agency Limited.
John is a Trustee of the Landmark Trust and Chair of its Audit Committee.
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive Officer
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive Officer
David was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer in September 2019. Prior to that, David was Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the DB Solutions business. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Partnership Assurance Group plc from February 2013 until April 2016.
Since his appointment as Group Chief Executive Officer he has focussed on transforming the Group into a customer-focussed leader in the retirement space, growing sustainably and profitably to create material value for shareholders.
Previously, David was Group Chief Actuary of Phoenix Group, where he was the Executive Committee member responsible for restructuring the Group’s balance sheet and enhancing its overall capital management. Prior to this, David worked in various senior roles at Swiss Re in the UK and US, across both its Admin Re and traditional reinsurance businesses. David commenced his career at the actuarial consultancy firm, Tillinghast.
Mark Godson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Mark Godson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Prior to his appointment as Group Chief Financial Officer, Mark was a partner at Ernst & Young (EY), and leader of their UK Actuarial practice. His career in the insurance industry has spanned over 20 years across several international markets, with particular expertise in delivering growth strategies, business transformation, commercial optimisation, and mergers and acquisition.
Prior to EY, Mark was a Director at Swiss Re from 2013 to 2017, leading the pricing, structuring, and due diligence of closed and open book transactions across Europe and the USA.
Jim Brown
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jim Brown
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jim has considerable corporate finance, restructuring and mergers and acquisition experience, and has worked within the financial services industry throughout his career, latterly within the Retail and Commercial Banking sector.
Jim was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Secure Trust Bank plc on 31 March 2024 and as Chair on 16 May 2024. He was Chief Executive Officer of Sainsbury's Bank and a member of the Sainsbury's Group Operating Board until his retirement from such roles at the end of March 2024. Prior to this, Jim was Chief Executive Officer of Williams and Glyn between 2015 and 2017 and Chief Executive Officer of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland from 2011 to 2015.
Internationally, Jim has held a number of senior roles in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, including Chief Executive Officer of Retail and Commercial Banking, Asia and the Middle East for RBS and ABN AMRO.
Kathy Byrne
Independent Non-Executive Director
(Life Companies)
Kathy Byrne
Independent Non-Executive Director
(Life Companies)
Kathy has over 35 years’ experience in the insurance industry and was previously Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Police Friendly Society. A qualified actuary, Kathy started her career at consulting actuaries Hymans Robertson & Co and was Managing Director of Cardif Pinnacle’s investment business unit. Prior to this, she was their Group Actuarial Director.
Kathy has an MBA from Henley Management College and has served on the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Council.
Kathy is a co-founder and shareholder of Alpasión Vineyard, Mendoza, where she held a Non-Executive Director role until 2020. In June 2023 Kathy was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Amicorps FS (UK) plc.
Michelle Cracknell
Independent Non-Executive Director
Michelle Cracknell
Independent Non-Executive Director
Michelle brings a wealth of strategic and customer behavioural experience, having spent over 30 years in senior roles in the regulated financial services industry.
Michelle was Chief Executive Officer of The Pensions Advisory Service between October 2013 and December 2018. Prior to that, she held Director roles in advice firms, pension providers and insurance companies.
In addition to Just Group, Michelle is a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Lloyds Banking Group Pension Funds, Chair of FIL Wealth Management Limited and Non-Executive Director of FIL Holdings Limited and Financial Administration Services Limited. Michelle is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of PensionBee Group plc, and Non-Executive Director of Sport England.
Mary Kerrigan
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mary Kerrigan
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mary has considerable experience in the pensions, life insurance and investment industries, and is a former partner of Willis Towers Watson.
Outside of Just Group, Mary is a Non-Executive Director of Aegon Asset Management UK plc. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Companjon Services DAC and New Ireland Assurance Company plc, and is Chair of their respective Risk Committees.
She is an Independent Member of the Supervisory Board of La Banque Postale Asset Management Limited. Mary also is a member of the Independent Governance Committee of Prudential Assurance UK Limited and Trustee of The London Irish Centre.
John Perks
Life Companies’ Chair
John Perks
Life Companies’ Chair
John has significant experience in the life and pensions industry, with 30 years of experience in the sector. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Police Mutual and Managing Director of Life & Pensions at LV=. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Prudential, AXA and Swiss Life. At LV=, John was a “friendly competitor” of the Just Group in many of its product markets, in addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer of its pension advice company, bringing important commercial and strategic perspectives to the Boards.
Outside of Just Group, John is a Non-Executive Director of Mobius Life Limited and is Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee, and the Chair of HSBC Life (UK) Limited.
John is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Mary Phibbs
Senior Independent Director
Mary Phibbs
Senior Independent Director
Mary has more than 40 years of international business, risk management and board experience in various countries.
Previous UK and overseas board experience includes serving as a Chair of Virgin Money Unit Trust Managers Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of Morgan Stanley & Co International plc, Novae Group plc, New Day Group Limited, Friends Life Group plc, and The Charity Bank Limited. Mary has held senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank plc, ANZ Banking Group, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Mary currently serves on the Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is also a Director of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Chair of its Risk Committee.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Surrey. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Kalpana Shah
Independent Non-Executive Director
Kalpana Shah
Independent Non-Executive Director
Kalpana brings over 30 years of business experience in the insurance and investment industry, having started her career at the London Commodity Exchange and moving into insurance as Deputy to the Director of Underwriting at Groupama Gan. She was Group Chief Actuary and a Partner at Hiscox plc until 2016.
Kalpana was elected to the governing body of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in 2019 and served as President for the 2023-2024 session. She continues to hold a leadership role as the immediate past president. She is a member of court for the Worshipful Company of Actuaries.
In addition to Just Group, Kalpana is Chair of RiverStone Managing Agency Limited, Senior Independent Director of RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of Markel International. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Asta Managing Agency Limited and is Chair of their Syndicates-in-a-Box Board. Kalpana also sits on the Capacity Transfer Panel at Lloyds of London.
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive Officer
David Richardson
Group Chief Executive Officer
David was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer in September 2019. Prior to that, David was Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the DB Solutions business. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Partnership Assurance Group plc from February 2013 until April 2016.
Since his appointment as Group Chief Executive Officer he has focussed on transforming the Group into a customer-focussed leader in the retirement space, growing sustainably and profitably to create material value for shareholders.
Previously, David was Group Chief Actuary of Phoenix Group, where he was the Executive Committee member responsible for restructuring the Group’s balance sheet and enhancing its overall capital management. Prior to this, David worked in various senior roles at Swiss Re in the UK and US, across both its Admin Re and traditional reinsurance businesses. David commenced his career at the actuarial consultancy firm, Tillinghast.
Mark Godson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Mark Godson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Prior to his appointment as Group Chief Financial Officer, Mark was a partner at Ernst & Young (EY), and leader of their UK Actuarial practice. His career in the insurance industry has spanned over 20 years across several international markets, with particular expertise in delivering growth strategies, business transformation, commercial optimisation, and mergers and acquisition.
Prior to EY, Mark was a Director at Swiss Re from 2013 to 2017, leading the pricing, structuring, and due diligence of closed and open book transactions across Europe and the USA.
David Cooper
Group Marketing and Distribution Director
David Cooper
Group Marketing and Distribution Director
David joined Just Retirement in April 2006 as Marketing Director, and his role changed to Group Marketing & Distribution Director in 2009. David is also Chief Executive Officer of the group of companies trading under the HUB brand, which are subsidiaries of Just Group.
David has over 35 years’ experience working in financial services. He has operated in a number of sectors including retail banking, general insurance, personal credit, actuarial consulting and the retirement industry. He has worked for a variety of large organisations including GE Capital, Centrica, Bradford & Bingley and Hymans Robertson as well as much smaller growth businesses such as Stalwart Assurance, the founder of enhanced annuities.
David is a Non-Executive Director of Comentis Limited and Criterion Tec Holdings Limited, a not-for-profit body that delivers professional standards and governance services for the UK’s financial services industry.
Alex Duncan
Group Chief Risk Officer
Alex Duncan
Group Chief Risk Officer
Alex joined Just Retirement Group in September 2012 as Group Chief Risk Officer. He is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry covering many disciplines, including reinsurance, consulting and banking.
Prior to Just, Alex spent eight years at Old Mutual, where he held a number of positions, including mergers and acquisitions, capital management and treasury.
Ellie Evans
Group Chief People Officer
Ellie Evans
Group Chief People Officer
Ellie is responsible for the people and talent agenda at Just and plays an active role in delivering the Group’s strategy and fostering Just’s culture of inclusion and performance.
Ellie has over 20 years of cross industry HR leadership experience in operational, talent, learning, engagement, organisational design and development roles.
Prior to Just, Ellie has worked at companies such as BAA plc, BP plc, Volkswagen Group, ABF plc and most recently, BGl Group.
Paul Fulcher
Group Capital Management and Investment Executive
Paul Fulcher
Group Capital Management and Investment Executive
Paul is responsible for Capital Management, Investments and Group management of market, demographic and medical, pricing and reinsurance risks.
Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the life insurance industry. Prior to Just, Paul was a principal at Milliman LLP, a life and financial service consulting firm. Before Milliman he spent six years working at Nomura as Managing Director, leading their ALM Structuring and Insurance Solutions team for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to Nomura, he worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland in their Global Markets business as Managing Director and Head of their Financial Institutions Risk Advisory team.
Paul is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Pretty Sagoo
Managing Director, Defined Benefit Solutions
Pretty Sagoo
Managing Director, Defined Benefit Solutions
Pretty is responsible for the Defined Benefit de-risking business.
Prior to Just, Pretty was Head of New Business and Pensions at Athora, where she was responsible for developing the new business franchise to support their organic growth targets. Other previous roles include Head of Pricing and Execution for the Pension Risk Transfer business at Legal and General, and Head of Insurance and Pension Solutions at Deutsche Bank.
Outside of Just, Pretty is also a Trustee for the Miners Pension Scheme.
Paul Turner
Managing Director, Retail
Paul Turner
Managing Director, Retail
Paul joined Just Retirement Group in August 2014 and is responsible for the Group’s retail businesses in the UK and South Africa. Previously, Paul led Just Group’s mortgage, corporate development and international divisions. Prior to Just, he held various senior international roles at Swiss Re in Asia and Australia. He has over 30 years’ insurance industry experience.
Paul is an Executive Director of our life companies, Just Retirement Limited and Partnership Life Assurance Company Limited. Outside of Just, Paul is a Non-Executive Director of EPPARG Limited.