Canada Life has appointed Emma Watkins as UK CEO, effective from 1 September 2025.

Watkins joins Canada Life following a decade at Scottish Widows, where she most recently served as managing director, retirement & longstanding and was a member of the executive committee. Prior to her time at Scottish Widows, Watkins was a Partner at LCP and held several senior roles within insurance businesses including MetLife Assurance Ltd and Ace European Group. She succeeds Lindsey Rix-Broom, who will continue to lead Canada Life UK alongside her role as Europe, Great-West Lifeco CEO until Watkins assumes the position. She will report directly to Rix-Broom and will join the Great-West Lifeco European Leadership Team.
 
Andrew Drake has been appointed as head of advisory at Brightwell, effective immediately.

To this newly created role, Drake will bring over 30 years of experience in the institutional investment industry, having held senior roles across professional services, investment consulting, fiduciary management, investment banking, and asset management. He is a former partner at PwC and has advised clients on all aspects of investment strategy, built and led high-performing teams, chaired investment committees, and driven organisational strategy and commercial growth. Commenting on Drake’s appointment, Brightwell CEO, Morten Nilsson, said: “Andrew’s appointment adds further depth to our team. His considerable experience will be hugely beneficial as we continue to enhance our capabilities and strengthen our services.”

TPT Investment Management (TPTIM) has announced the appointment of Vanessa Poon as investment risk manager.

Poon has nearly a decade of industry experience in investment risk roles. Prior to joining TPTIM, she served as an investment risk analyst at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Before that, she spent over three years at Premier Miton Investors, focusing on fund liquidity, stress testing, and regulatory compliance. Vanessa began her career in credit risk at Investec. Vanessa is a chartered financial analyst charter holder with additional certification in environmental, social and governance investing. Poon will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evolution of TPTIM’s Investment Risk Framework, including the oversight of all systems and processes related to the investment risk function as well as reporting to key stakeholders. She will report to TPTIM investment director, Peter Smith.

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