Chris Phillips, currently CEO of the Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), is to become the new CEO of Morley Fund Management, the fund management arm of Aviva, the UK life assurance and pensions group. He will start at Morley in the summer.
The appointment of Phillips follows a search overseen by Morley chairman and Aviva executive director Philip Scott. “We are delighted that we have been able to attract the talents of Chris Phillips,” says Scott. “He is an accomplished and well-regarded figure within the industry. A fund manager himself at one time, he has shown he is adept at managing change and driving results. Morley had an excellent year in 2006 and the business continues to deliver a strong financial and operational performance. It is well-placed to move into the next stage of development under Chris’s leadership. Fund management is an integral part of Aviva’s growth strategy. Chris will have the full backing of Aviva and we look forward to him coming on board later this year.”
Phillips is also currently chairman of the ABI investment committee. Prior to becoming CEO of SWIP in 2003, he was chief executive of Royal London Asset Management. He began his investment career with Morgan Grenfell & Company in 1983 in international banking before joining Morgan Grenfell Asset Management in 1987, initially as a fixed income fund manager.
“I have enjoyed my time at SWIP and I am proud of what we have achieved there over the past three years,” says Phillips. “Morley represents an exciting next step in my career. Morley rightfully occupies a leading place in the UK investment scene, has a growing presence in Europe and access to powerful distribution channels. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to build on its impressive strengths and successes.”