Legal & General launches Insurance division

The Insurance division will have over 7 million customers in UK and the US, and provide life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection to individuals and company employees.

Bernie Hickman was Managing Director of L&G's UK Protection business from 2005 till 2010. He became CEO of Legal & General Home Finance and MD of Individual Retirement in 2014, where he launched its digital platform for lifetime mortgages, achieving a 25% market share within the first year. He has also held the positions of Group Financial Controller and Investor Relations Director.

The UK Retail Protection business provides cover to over four million customers and has over 25% market share. The Group Protection business provides two million company employees with life or income protection, and has over 15% market share.

Nigel Wilson, Group CEO, said: “Bernie is a proven successful leader. Legal & General has two large successful international businesses, Legal & General Investment Management, and Legal & General Retirement. We are now developing our third international business, our insurance business.”

Bernie Hickman, Chief Executive Officer, Legal & General Insurance, added: “Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in all areas of the UK and US insurance markets, with digital marketing and straight through processing becoming ever more important. It’s therefore a great opportunity and an exciting time to combine our UK and US expertise, technology and insights, to grow our existing businesses and establish new, digital insurance businesses in selected international markets.”