Sam Lever appointed Chief Actuary

Following Rob Kerry’s decision to retire at the end of May 2025, Sam Lever has been appointed as the Chief Actuary of Utmost Life and Pensions with effect from 1 June 2025.

Sam is a qualified actuary with nearly 25 years of experience, including senior leadership roles within PwC, Phoenix, Standard Life, and most recently on the executive of the Savings and Retirement business at Pacific Life Re. Sam was closely involved with the early development of the bulk purchase annuity (BPA) business at Phoenix. In his role at Pacific Life Re, he was a leader within their BPA and longevity swap reinsurance products.

As Chief Actuary, Sam will play a key role on the executive team in driving Utmost’s growth in the BPA market, as well as taking on responsibility for actuarial reporting, oversight of Utmost’s product range, capital management, reinsurance and ALM.

Rob Kerry joined Utmost Life and Pensions as its Chief Actuary at the end of 2018, overseeing the completion of the transfer of Equitable Life to Utmost and its successful integration into the Utmost Group. He was also responsible for ensuring Utmost’s compliance with both the FCA’s new Consumer Duty requirements and the new Insurance accounting standard (IFRS17). More recently, Rob has been instrumental in Utmost’s entry into the bulk purchase annuity (BPA) market.

Sam has been working closely with Rob over the last few weeks to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

Andrew Stoker, Chief Executive Officer, Utmost Life and Pensions, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rob for his contribution to Utmost and for his considerable support in pivoting Utmost from a closed book consolidator to an active participant in the BPA sector.

I am delighted that Sam is joining Utmost. His wide-ranging experience of leading departments and developing people and involvement with the BPA business through periods of significant growth will be invaluable as Utmost continues its expansion in the BPA market.”