Legal & General Group plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Antonio Simoes as the new Chief Executive Officer of the entire Legal & General Group.
Prior to this new role, Antonio served as the Regional Head of Europe for Banco Santander, a position he held since September 2020, where he led the bank’s business lines in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Poland, spanning retail, commercial, corporate, and investment banking, as well as asset management and insurance. Before joining Santander, Antonio had a 13-year career at HSBC, where he eventually served as CEO of UK and Europe, and later as CEO of the Global Private Banking division, based in London and Hong Kong. He also previously worked as a partner at McKinsey & Company.
“Legal & General is a great company with an iconic and widely recognized and respected brand, backed by a strong financial track record, and a commitment to important social issues. I am truly proud to have been appointed as CEO and to continue building on the successes achieved by Nigel and the entire team. We are at a pivotal moment for our customers and the industry as a whole, with emerging technologies reshaping social dynamics and new economic forces at play, presenting us with new challenges and opportunities that we must adapt and evolve to. I am eager to start working alongside the board and the fantastic team of colleagues to write the next chapter of our story, which will involve new innovative investment solutions, sustainable value for shareholders, and lasting positive impacts for society as a whole.”
Antonio Simoes, CEO of Legal & General Group
His appointment is the final outcome of a long and rigorous global selection process, overseen by the Chairman of the Group, Sir John Kingman, and it will see him take over from Sir Nigel Wilson, who has held the position since 2012 and announced his intention to retire in January. Antonio’s appointment will be effective from January 1, 2024. Until then, the role of Chief Executive will still be formally held by Nigel Wilson, who will facilitate the transition of the Group’s strategies. Upon assuming his new role, Antonio will also become a member of the board of directors of Legal & General Group plc.
“The board is proud to welcome Antonio Simoes as the CEO designate, bringing with him a strong track record in top-level leadership positions within the world of financial services, having worked in highly complex global organizations. In this field, his energy, ambition, and clear strategic vision have shone through, along with a strong belief in the positive role that business can play in improving society as a whole. Personally, I am excited to work with Antonio to ensure that Legal & General continues to deliver on its potential for the benefit of our shareholders, employees, customers, and the wider community we serve. Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to bid farewell to Nigel, who I am confident will continue to support Legal & General. We have an outstanding executive team, and the board can only be proud of the progress it continues to make in achieving the objectives outlined in our strategy.”
Sir John Kingman, president of the Group
