International life company RL360 and its parent company International Financial Group Limited have announced two significant appointments to their senior management team.

Simon Barwell is RL360’s new marketing director, having been in the role on an interim basis since February 2016.

Mark Salthouse, who has been working as a consultant for IFGL on its acquisition strategy for the past few years, will take on the role of director of group strategy for IFGL.

Simon’s career began at Friends Provident in 1989.

Since then he has worked across the life insurance market, most recently as an interim programme director at St James’s Place Wealth Management.

His experience is extensive and, for the last 11 years, he has carved out a successful interim career, working for a range of diverse, blue chip, financial services companies.

Simon has headed up RL360’s marketing department during a time of huge change and expansion, including the integration of CMI Insurance Company Ltd – now rebranded RL360 Services – and the acquisition of wealth platform Ardan International in 2016.

His remit includes all marketing activity, proposition development and fund manager relationships.

‘IFGL and RL360 have grown significantly in recent years and supporting such growth requires many things, not least a strong marketing presence across both traditional and digital marketing channels,’ said Simon, who sits on the RL360 executive team.

‘For both RL360 and the market in general it is a time of great change and I am looking forward to helping RL360 play its part’.

Mark is a business change programme director with 30 years’ consulting experience across a range of industries worldwide.

He spent 28 years with PW/PwC/IBM, becoming a partner in 1999 and going on to create IBM’s European analytics practice.

Mark moved to RL360 to lead the integration of CMI into IFGL and is managing the purchase process for the Friends Provident International acquisition.

Mark will continue in that role on a permanent basis, as well as working on any further acquisitions and key strategic projects.

He joins the IFGL executive team.

‘I have found RL360/IFGL an exciting place to work,’ said Mark. ‘There is a can do attitude within the company, together with a commitment to doing business the right way, which is refreshing, especially at a time when there is a huge opportunity in the international market.

‘We are seeing extensive regulatory change which allows a well-run international business to grow both the market and market share and it provides a great opportunity to drive the IFGL Group forward.’

David Kneeshaw, chief executive of IFGL said: ‘Our drive for growth, both organic and transactional, means that we need to strengthen the management of IFGL and RL360.

‘I have known both Simon and Mark for many years and together they add a broad range of experience and capability which makes us stronger.’

In an interview with Business News last September Mr Kneeshaw said he recognised the vital role played by Friends Provident International in Castletown.

His company is in the process of buying the Castletown business for around £340m.

l Meanwhile the financial strength of RL360 has been reaffirmed by AKG, which specialises in the provision of ratings, information and market assistance to the financial services indystry.

AKG has once again awarded RL360 and RL360 Services a B+ for financial strength, the highest financial strength rating of any international life company, following a review.

‘AKG considers IFGL to be a financially strong standalone operation with very strong operational characteristics,’ said the report, referring to IFGL as ‘one of the leading players in the offshore market.

RL360 and RL360 Services retained 4 star service ratings, with the report saying that in the last year ‘RL360 appears to have maintained its service levels, while also working on the integration of RL360 Services’.

In addition, both RL360 and RL360 Services received 4 stars for image and strategy, plus business performance.

RL360’s new marketing director Simon Barwell said: ‘It is gratifying to see AKG acknowledging the strength and success of RL360, RL360 Services and IFGL following an extremely productive period for us.

‘We’ve worked hard to grow the business and to do our best for our policyholders.

‘The coming year will be a particularly busy one. Like all international life companies, we will need to be proactive in our response to changing regulations worldwide. These are exciting times for us, which will bring with them the kind