"We look forward to benefiting from his proven track record of growing businesses in challenging market conditions and building teams that put customers first."
- Peter Mann, Interim CEO & Chairman of Guardian Financial Services
Prior to this appointment, Carlton Hood served as Group CEO of Responsible Life. In the past, he’s also worked as Managing Director of Financial Services at The Telegraph, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Ltd, Customer Director at Quilter, and CEO of Confused.com, amongst others.
Effective from the 1st May 2025, Carlton will lead Guardian Financial Services’ (Guardian) Executive Team, consisting of Duncan Mosely, Chief Operating Officer; Nischal Singh, Chief Financial Officer; Hilary Banks, Commercial Director; and Ruth Starsmeare, Group Chief Technology Officer.
Peter Mann, who has served as Guardian’s Chairman since 2018 and is currently serving as Interim CEO, will step into the role of Non-Executive Chairman.
“Carlton’s experience of driving growth and shareholder value, hand-in-hand with ensuring the right customer outcomes, makes him a perfect fit for the next phase of Guardian’s journey. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him at Old Mutual, now Quilter, and his motivation and commitment are second-to-none,” he said.
Carlton has always believed that Financial Services, done right, can transform lives. “Protection is one of the most powerful examples of this. The UK Life Insurance market needs fresh thinking – not just to meet regulatory requirements such as Consumer Duty or because of the market study.
“Guardian has already built a reputation for service excellence and product innovation. Now, the next stage is to turn that strength into sustainable market leadership. I’m excited to join the team for the next stage of Guardian’s journey, ensuring we stay ahead of change and continue to raise the bar for customer outcomes in the industry,” he said.
