Independent Governance Committee

Colin Stewart is an experienced non-executive director, chair and former managing director, with a 35-year career at Citi in investment banking, capital markets, foreign exchange, derivatives, risk management and securities services. He has worked extensively in pensions, insurance and asset management, chairing Citi’s UK Pension Plans and serving on advisory boards for the Bank of England, Scottish Government and Adam Smith Business School.

Colin holds an MA in Economics from the University of Glasgow and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments and the Pensions Management Institute, bringing deep expertise in governance, risk oversight and institutional finance.

Rosie has worked in financial services since 1990, mainly as a global equity investor and analyst with a focus on the consumer sector at several leading fund management firms. Her roles have involved extensive engagement with senior management and investee company boards. Rosie holds board positions including as a non-executive director of UBS Asset Management Funds Ltd. and is Audit Chair for UBS Asset Management UK. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has completed executive education at London Business School and Harvard Business School, as well as the Competent Boards ESG Certificate Program in 2021. Rosie is also a Qualified Risk Director®.

Louise is an actuary with more than 30 years’ experience in the mutual sector. As Equitable Life’s With-Profits Actuary, she advised management and the Board on the fair treatment of with-profits policyholders and played a key role in implementing the 2019 business transformation that distributed the Society’s surplus assets to policyholders. Currently, she is an independent member of the With-Profits Committee of Scottish Widows, advising the Board on the Scottish Widows and Clerical Medical With-Profits Funds.

Louise has worked in highly regulated positions requiring technical aptitude and commercial awareness, always prioritising customer needs and clear communication of complex policies and investments.

Julie Russell is a Chartered Insurer with over 43 years’ financial services experience. She retired from Aberdeen in 2020, having held several senior leadership and board-level roles, most recently as Executive Director Advice for 1825 financial planning and advice. Julie has developed broad expertise in strategy, business and commercial planning, omni-channel guidance, advice and service delivery, proposition design, firm acquisition and integration, and has held key positions on various boards and committees throughout her career.
 

Jo Kite is Royal London’s Chief Customer Officer and serves on the Group’s Executive Committee, responsible for UK customer outcomes. She began her career at Aviva in 1993, training and qualifying as an actuary, and subsequently held senior management roles in the UK and Europe. Before joining Royal London, Jo was Managing Director at Willis Towers Watson, leading their Master Trust business and Scottish Pensions Consulting. She also spent 12 years at Standard Life, leading executive level Marketing, Proposition, Operations, and Finance functions across wealth, platforms and workplace.   

Ewan Smith is an actuary with over 38 years’ experience in financial services. He currently serves as CEO Office Director, overseeing the Group Strategy and Group Sustainability and Stewardship teams. Ewan joined Royal London in 2001 when Scottish Life merged with Royal London, and has held several senior leadership roles, initially focusing on asset management and actuarial modelling. For the last 20 years, he has led proposition strategy across pensions and protection. Ewan is a member of Royal London’s Investment Advisory Committee, a director of RLAM, a Trustee of the Royal London Group Pension Scheme and a member of the Independent Governance Committee.