Standard Life has appointed Emma Furlonger as managing director of its workplace and retail intermediary business.
She has led the business on an interim basis since April when former managing director Gail Izat was appointed as chief operating officer of the provider’s pensions and savings business.
Ms Furlonger has 30 years of experience in the pensions and long-term savings industry, spanning workplace pensions, intermediary distribution, client relationships and business growth.
She joined Standard Life in 2021 as head of DC workplace distribution before becoming workplace trading director in 2025. Before joining Standard Life, she held senior roles at Legal & General, Aviva, Friends Life and Friends Provident.
Ms Furlonger said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed to this role. We've built strong momentum across workplace and retail intermediary, with a clear focus on delivering good outcomes for members, customers and advisers. I look forward to building on that progress as we continue to invest in our propositions, support more people with their long-term finances and help drive the next phase of growth for the business."
Standard Life acquired financial provider Aegon UK for £2bn in April in a deal that will create one of the country’s largest retirement savings and income businesses with 16m customers. Standard Life claims its group will be the largest by size with about £480bn in assets under advice (AUA).
The merger of the two groups will help Standard Life with its target to be the UK’s leading retirement and savings provider. It will also strengthen Standard Life’s cash, capital and earnings position.
The deal will also make Standard Life the UK’s second largest workplace pensions platform by assets and customers, the company says, and significantly increase its footprint in the pensions and savings market.