Saga Regulatory News (SAGA)

19 November 2019

Saga plc

("Saga" or "the Group")

Directorate and Management change

Appointment of CEO of Insurance and Chief Operating Officer

Saga, the UK's specialist in products and services for people aged 50 and over, is pleased to announce two new senior management roles. Cheryl Agius will join the Board of Saga on 1 January 2020 as CEO of Insurance and Gilles Normand joins the executive team as Chief Operating Officer on 25 November 2019.

CEO of Insurance

Cheryl will lead all aspects of our insurance business and will be responsible for our insurance strategy, building on the early success of our innovative 3-year fixed price product. Her experience and strong track record of delivery in senior strategic roles will be valuable as we bring together our Insurance Broking, Underwriting and Claims Management businesses.

Cheryl joins from Legal & General with over 25 years' experience in insurance, retirement and pensions. At Legal & General, she was most recently Chief Executive Officer of its General Insurance business. She led an organisational transformation and change programme to separate the General Insurance and Life divisions and become recognised in the market as a leading data-driven, digitally-led business. She previously held roles as UK Strategic Retirement Director and UK International Development Director.

Before Legal & General, Cheryl has held roles with Aon Hewitt, Lloyds TSB and Towers Watson. Cheryl is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

Chief Operating Officer

Gilles will shape and lead the Group's transformation programme. With the Saga brand and its customers at the centre, he will focus on improving alignment and execution across the business, digital and marketing transformation and creating a simpler and more efficient Group.

Gilles has spent the last 10 years in executive positions driving change at several companies within the Covéa Group, the largest personal lines insurance group in France. Most recently, he was Group CEO at Swinton, Covéa's retail insurer in the UK, leading its simplification and digitalisation, with a focus on Swinton's strong direct franchise.

Before Covéa, Gilles held senior positions in marketing and strategy for the French Banking Federation and Crédit Agricole. 

Lance Batchelor, Chief Executive Officer, said

"These are two important appointments as we continue the transformation of Saga, and both Cheryl and Gilles will help drive the new strategy we announced in April. They both have strong and very relevant experience of strategic delivery and will build on the momentum we have already created."

Cheryl Agius said

"I am delighted to be joining Saga to lead the next phase of growth. Saga has a great brand and has demonstrated market leading innovation. I am looking forward to working as part of a strong team and applying our collective skills, to grow the business and develop leading solutions for all our stakeholders."

Gilles Normand said

"I'm excited to be joining Saga, a much-loved brand which is going into its next chapter as it progresses the new strategy. I look forward to working with the talented team as we continue the transformation."

Cheryl does not currently have any interest in shares in Saga. There is no further information which would require disclosure under 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Saga plc

Mark Watkins, Investor Relations Director Tel: 07738 777 479

Email: mark.watkins@saga.co.uk

MHP Communications

Tim Rowntree/Simon Hockridge Tel: 020 3128 8789/ 07551 170 451

Email: saga@mhpc.com 

Notes to editors

About Saga

Saga is a specialist in the provision of products and services for life after 50. The Saga brand is one of the most recognised and trusted brands in the UK and is known for its high level of customer service and its high quality, award winning products and services including cruises and holidays, insurance, personal finance and publishing. www.saga.co.uk