Standard Life chief financial officer and board member Jackie Hunt has left the firm to join Prudential UK & Europe as chief executive.
Ms Hunt joined Standard Life in January 2009 before being appointed as chief financial officer in May 2010. Prior to this she was chief financial officer at Norwich Union.
The role at Prudential, which she will start at the end of October, will be her first chief executive position. She will be taking over from Rob Devey who is leaving to pursue new opportunities.
David Nish, chief executive of Standard Life, said: "I'd like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Board, to thank Jackie for her commitment and the contribution that she has made to this business during the last four years."
Tidjane Thiam, group chief executive of Prudential, said: "Jackie joins Prudential with a proven track record of delivering in the highly competitive UK insurance market. I am delighted that a person of her talent and experience is joining the group."
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Ms Hunt said: "I greatly look forward to joining Prudential. It is a group which combines a proud heritage stretching back 165 years with a clear forward-looking strategy for meeting the savings and protection needs of its customers across the world. The UK and Europe business has a clearly defined and valuable role to play within the group."
Mr Devey is leaving the firm after four years, having been appointed as chief executive in 2009 after seven years at Lloyds Banking Group.
Mr Devey said: "The UK business has emerged from challenging macro-economic conditions in excellent health and with a clear, focused strategy for the future. The time is right for me to pursue the next stage in my career."

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