" I retired in April, but when Andy Peters and Mike Devaney approached me about doing something really interesting and new with Guardian I just couldn’t say no."
Rob Carr was previously head of adviser development at Royal London and will rejoin former colleagues Andrew Peters and Mike Devaney at Guardian.
The firm recently partnered with The SimplyBiz Group and is currently piloting its life and critical illness proposition before a phased roll-out to the wider market next month.
Rob commented: “I retired in April, but when Andy Peters and Mike Devaney approached me about doing something really interesting and new with Guardian I just couldn’t say no. I loved being part of the challenge of launching a new entrant in the protection market the last time I did it, but I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. It’s brilliant to have the chance to be involved again. I suppose that means I’ve actually been on a sort of sabbatical this summer, rather than retirement.
“Over the years I have advocated the advantages of protection policies being placed into trust. I’m really excited at the innovation that Guardian’s Payout Planner will bring to the market. advisers now have a really simple option to guarantee that probate delays will be avoided and the claim payments can get to those who need it most immediately."
Mike Devaney, Guardian's head of strategic partnerships, said: “Guardian is committed to working in partnership with our distributor partners to support our mutual ambition of growing the protection market. The appointment of Rob as adviser development manager is a clear signal of our commitment. Having worked with Rob for many years, I know he is best in class when it comes to engaging advisers and telling stories that can motivate them to embrace protection as part of their advice process.
"We have a massive task of educating the market around the innovative proposition we have launched, and there is more to come this year and next. Therefore, it’s great to have Rob as part of my team and I know his appointment will be welcomed by our key strategic partners."
Andy Peters, Guardian's distribution director, added: “Guardian has built a first-class sales and marketing team ready to support advisers as we enter the market. Rob is another great signing for Guardian leaving us perfectly placed to build upon the great relationships we have developed with our distribution partners. Rob’s passion for protection and the adviser sector is unrivalled and I am delighted to have him join the business at this critical stage of our market entry."
