Stephen Gay quits Aifa for ABI
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Aifa director general Stephen Gay is to leave the trade body to take up the role of director of life, savings and protection at the Association of British Insurers.
Gay (pictured), who also held the role of director general of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, joined Aifa in December 2010.
He joined from Aviva where he was director of distribution development and replaced Chris Cummings.
During his time at Aifa’s helm Gay has overseen a strategic review of the organisation which opened the trade body’s membership to restricted advisers.
Gay’s leaving date, and when he will join the ABI, is yet to be decided.
Aifa chairman the Rt. Hon.John Gummer, Lord Deben, says: “During a difficult economic year for members, Aifa and Ami have continued to provide a strong and essential voice for their professions. Aifa has reduced its costs, while increasing revenues, and has improving operations and governance. Aifa is now in a better position to provide the single, strong and united voice that is able to exert greater influence on regulators and policy makers in the UK and Europe.
“Stephen’s leadership has been crucial to Aifa’s improvement over the past year I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his valuable contribution to our work and the development of the intermediary profession.”
Gay said: “I am proud of the work that Aifa and Ami do for their members and what we have achieved during the past year. I am also extremely grateful for the support shown by our council and boards, and the dedication of all the staff at the organisation during what has been a difficult year for advisers. I have no doubt that Aifa will continue to offer the profession an effective voice that is both listened to and respected by regulators and policy makers now and into the future.”
Aifa announced the appointment of a new policy director earlier this week. Chris Hannant joined from the British Chambers of Commerce and has also held roles at the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and the ABI.
Former Aifa policy director Andrew Strange says it is critical Gay’s successor has a good grounding in policy to be able to tackle the significant regulatory challenges in the UK and Europe.
Strange says: “At such a crucial time in both the UK and Europe, including the creation of the Financial Conduct Authority and the implementation of RDR, and the significant legislative agenda stemming from Europe, it will be critical for Aifa to secure an experienced policy professional, with extensive IFA experience, who can really hit the ground running.”
On Gay’s appointment to the ABI, ABI director general Otto Thoresen says: “We are delighted that someone of Stephen’s undoubted calibre will be joining us to drive forward the ABI’s work on pensions, saving and protection.
“This is an absolutely crucial time for the industry and we have a unique opportunity to change the UK’s low saving habit through the introduction of automatic enrolment. If we get this right we could change the way people save and protect their futures for good and I know Stephen is absolutely focused on helping the industry rise to this challenge.”
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Readers' comments (15)
Anonymous | 13 Jan 2012 10:18 am
AIFA may now start to promote IFA's to the utmost and not do things half hearted. If they do I might just rejoin.
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Paul Nash | 13 Jan 2012 10:19 am
Not really a surprise?
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Steve Webb | 13 Jan 2012 10:20 am
"Joined AIFA in December 2010"
Gave it a good long go then - presumably he has achieved all the goals he set himself for AIFA and is now moving on to other organisations that need the same help
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Marty | 13 Jan 2012 10:21 am
Not much point in having a strong voice if noone takes any notice of it Mr Chairman. I am curious to know what tangible results Stephen Gay actually achieved during his tenure. So long, fairwell, auf wiedersehen, adieu. Another one bites the dust. Not long to go now before AIFA realises its time is done and needs to disband to make way for a body that can actually get results for its members.
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Paul Smith | 13 Jan 2012 10:25 am
Draw your own conclusions but it the interpretation has to be he never had his heart in AIFA and let’s face it, it is a dead duck
Another self-serving move!!!
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Phil Sipocz | 13 Jan 2012 10:28 am
He came from an insurer. He's left for an organisation representing insurers. He didn't make this decision overnight. So what has he done for IFA's? Was he ever really doing anything for IFA's
Yet another of the professional gravy train riders, on the merry-go-round of overpaid pointless jobs. Surely his next step up will be the FSA. He sounds perfect for it.
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Alan Lakey | 13 Jan 2012 10:33 am
Another example of career progression from the same people who brought you Chris Cummings
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Nick | 13 Jan 2012 10:35 am
He didn't last long then! Probably worried that he won't get paid soon.....
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Anonymous | 13 Jan 2012 10:35 am
It depends on what results you wanted from your trade body - if you were hoping he'd decry the RDR, or get it postponed because you'd not started your qualifications yet, he probably disappointed.
Still, AIFA is bust - because there will be precious few IFAs left. Cue rebadged to 'Intermediaries' and a more rational perspective across all members interests - not just those with the time to blog and snipe, eh?
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Tyburn Asset Management | 13 Jan 2012 11:04 am
You really couldn't make this up. This really confirms what most IFAs knew or the less cynical ones suspected all along.
IFAs have been bashed around for so long we are like a boxer which has been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. We are also all getting older and there are virtually no younger IFAs coming through. We have been misrepresented for years with no credible professional body fighting our corner. Our independence is our own worst enemy sometimes, everyone has their own view and we are bit like a fledging country with a corrupt dictator being bashed around by foreign powers.
How could it possibly happen that someone who was supposed to be representing IFAs leaves to join the insurance brigade, the very same people who are writing to our clients with tick boxes asking if they no longer receive advice from their IFA.
IFAs need a revolution of their own but I can understand why it hasnt happened yet. We have been through so much it just takes the fight out of you.
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