Utmost International Chief Executive Officer
Paul Thompson is the Group CEO of Utmost International, having co-founded the business in 2013. Paul has over 30 years of industry experience, having spent 16 years as an investment banker providing strategic, financial and mergers and acquisitions advice to financial institutions around the world, and holding senior management positions in several large private and FTSE listed organisations.
Paul was Group Finance Director and subsequently, Group CEO of Resolution Plc – the FTSE100 listed closed life fund consolidator and asset manager. In addition, Paul was a Partner and Head of the Financial Services Practice at Pamplona Capital Management.
Utmost International Chief Financial Officer
Ian Maidens is the Group CFO of Utmost International, having co-founded the business in 2013. Ian was a founding partner and Head of M&A of Resolution Ltd, where he led the UK life merger and acquisition activity including the acquisition of Friends Provident, the majority of the AXA UK Life business, and the Bupa life business.
Prior to the founding of Resolution Ltd in 2008, Ian was Group Chief Actuary and Head of Corporate Development at Resolution plc, leading the acquisitions of the life insurance business of Royal & Sun Alliance and the UK business of Swiss Life.
Utmost PanEurope dacChief Executive Officer
Paul Gillett is the CEO of Utmost PanEurope dac, the Irish life insurance company of Utmost International.
Previously, Paul worked at Generali from 1997 in a range of management roles. He launched Generali PanEurope in 1997, which he led prior to its acquisition by Utmost International in 2018.
Utmost Worldwide Limited Chief Executive Officer
Leon Steyn is the CEO of Utmost Worldwide Limited, the Guernsey life insurance company of Utmost International.
Prior to joining Utmost Worldwide, Leon held senior roles at Kleinwort Benson, Close Brothers Wealth Management and E&Y.
Leon is a qualified accountant in South Africa and is also a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Leon holds an Honours degree from Stellenbosch University and completed a General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Utmost Limited Chief Executive Officer
Mike Foy is the CEO of Utmost Limited, the Isle of Man life insurance company of Utmost International.
Previously, Mike worked at AXA in a range of management roles. Mike was the CFO of AXA Isle of Man and managed the sale process of this asset to Utmost International in 2016. He subsequently became the CEO of this business. Mike is a fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Global Head of Sales and Marketing, Utmost Wealth Solutions
Stephen joined Utmost International in 2018 and leads Sales and Marketing activity globally.
Stephen has over 20 years of experience in the international life insurance industry across distribution channels and product types.
Global Head of Utmost Corporate Solutions
Michelle Leahy is the Global Head of Corporate Solutions in Utmost International.
Michelle previously worked in Mercer in the actuarial and pensions area before leading the Health and Risk Business in Ireland.
Michelle has over 18 years of experience in group risk and distribution.
Global Head of Product and Proposition
Gary is the Global Head of Product and Proposition in Utmost International. His responsibilities include proposition development and management, pricing, technical services (legal, tax and regulatory) and deal structuring.
Gary has over 25 years of insurance and investment industry experience. Previous roles include Commercial Director of Zurich Insurance’s Global Corporate Life & Pensions business, Global Head of Propositions and member of Zurich’s Leadership Team (consisting of the top 100 executives globally), member of main board at Openwork (UK’s largest restricted advice network) and Global Head of Business Management at Willis Towers Watson.
Gary has a first-class honours degree in Mathematics with Statistics from the University of Bristol and has been a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries since 1998.