Wesleyan announces new CFO
Wesleyan, the Birmingham-based specialist financial services mutual for doctors, dentists, lawyers and teachers, has appointed a new chief financial officer.
Gillian Cass will take up the role later this year, subject to regulatory approval.
She joins Wesleyan with over 20 years’ financial services experience and is currently CFO of customer savings and investments and operations at M&G (previously Prudential).
Prior to her time with Prudential, Cass held a number of roles at Aviva including director of global finance operations, chief accounting officer of Aviva Investors and chief accounting officer of the UK Life business.
Group chief executive Mario Mazzocchi said: “I am impressed with Gillian’s breadth of knowledge and her ability to interpret how a proactive and knowledgeable finance function can support and enable a firm like Wesleyan to better serve its customers and enhance returns for our members.
“As a member of my group executive committee I know Gillian will push us toward this goal and complement the diversity of thinking within this team.
“Wesleyan is on a continuous journey to meet and exceed the changing needs of our customers. It is our aim to provide brighter financial futures for the professions we serve, and we can only do so by becoming a true lifelong partner for all of their financial needs.
“As a result, we are investing in a programme of transformation that includes our infrastructure, ways of working and the ways in which we will reach our customers with products and services.
“Gillian’s appointment will undoubtedly support these efforts. In addition to her skills as CFO, she brings with her a wealth of experience in change management as well as more than 10 years with PwC in the UK and abroad.”
Cass said: “I am really looking forward to joining Wesleyan later this year to play a key role in delivering the strategic plans they have in place. I bought into Mario’s vision for the business from our very first conversation and know that as a financial mutual they have their customers’ needs and members’ interests at heart – and that is a great model upon which we will build.”
Gillian will replace Ahmed Farooq, who joined Wesleyan in 2010 and became CFO in 2015.
