Finance

Britain's L&G hires Wheway as new chair, Kingman to step down

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on October 13, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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(Reuters) -Britain's Legal & General said on Monday its Chair John Kingman would step down from his role after nearly a decade, with Scott Wheway replacing him after the insurer's annual general

Britain's L&G hires Wheway as new chair, Kingman to step down

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Legal & General said on Monday it had hired finance and retail veteran Scott Wheway to become its new chairman from next May, succeeding John Kingman as the FTSE 100 insurer undergoes wider board changes.

Wheway will join L&G's board from January as a non-executive director and chair designate before taking over from Kingman - who has served nine years as chair - after the company's annual general meeting, the firm said.

L&G is also looking for a new finance chief after Jeff Davies said he would step down at the end of this year to join insurance group Resolution Life. 

L&G is undergoing a strategy shake-up under CEO Antonio Simoes that has seen it offload non-core businesses such as its U.S. protection business and housebuilder CALA Group in order to focus on its core insurance and asset management units in a bid to return more cash to shareholders.

Wheway is currently chair of Lloyds Banking Group's pensions arm Scottish Widows and has previously chaired British Gas owner Centrica and held board roles at AXA UK, Aviva and Santander UK. He is a former CEO of Best Buy Europe and held senior roles at Boots and Tesco.

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru and Iain Withers in London; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

Key Takeaways

  • Scott Wheway appointed as new chair of L&G.
  • John Kingman to step down after nine years.
  • L&G seeks new finance chief as Jeff Davies exits.
  • Strategic shift to focus on core insurance and asset management.
  • Wheway brings extensive experience from Lloyds, Centrica, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chairman?
A chairman is the head of a board of directors in a company, responsible for leading meetings, ensuring effective governance, and representing the company to stakeholders.
What is a non-executive director?
A non-executive director is a member of a company's board who does not engage in the day-to-day management but provides independent oversight and strategic guidance.
What is corporate governance?
Corporate governance refers to the systems, principles, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled, ensuring accountability and transparency in its operations.
What is a finance chief?
A finance chief, often called a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), is responsible for managing the financial actions of a company, including financial planning, risk management, and financial reporting.
What is an annual general meeting?
An annual general meeting (AGM) is a yearly gathering of a company's shareholders where they discuss the company's performance, elect directors, and make decisions on key issues.

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