AEGON UK Names Mark Laidlaw Chief Risk Officer and Bill Robertson to Finance Director

In line with The Hague-based AEGON's strategy of focusing on efficient capital management and improving returns on capital, the company has created two separate functions within its UK Risk and Finance operations, each with local Management Board level responsibility. The new risk operation will bring a clear focus on risk, capital management and improving returns, and will ensure AEGON is prepared for future changes to the regulatory environment in the UK insurance sector, according to the financial institution.

Mark Laidlaw, AEGON UK's Chief Financial Officer since 2005, will take on the new Management Board role of Chief Risk Officer and will lead and develop risk and capital management strategy within AEGON UK. As CFO Laidlaw, who joined AEGON in 1988, led AEGON UK's finance, actuarial and risk functions.

AEGON also has appointed Bill Robertson to the role of Finance Director. He is currently Chief Actuary for AEGON N.V., a role he has held since 2004. Prior to that he held a number of senior finance and actuarial roles within AEGON UK. He joined AEGON in 1999. Both Robertson and Laidlaw will report to AEGON UK chief executive Otto Thoresen.

Commenting on the changes, Thoresen, also a member of AEGON's Management Board, noted in a statement, "It is clear that AEGON UK needs to improve return on capital in line with AEGON's global approach, following the impact of falls in the financial markets. AEGON's strategy is to improve returns and to de-risk our balance sheet. Creating a new focus on risk and capital management will enable us to achieve these dual goals. With the new management focus, AEGON UK is well placed for the future."

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio