Ruth Davidson MP has joined Royal London’s board as non-executive director, effective 8 June.
Davidson previously served as leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2011 to 2019 and prior to that, she worked in news and current affairs journalism for a decade.
Davidson chose not to stand for re-election following the Scottish Parliament election last week (May 6). She is no longer a member of Scottish parliament for Edinburgh Central.
She is not the first politician to join Royal London in recent years. Former pensions minister Steve Webb joined the firm in 2015 as policy director. He was at the company for five years before leaving in May last year to join Lane Clark and Peacock as a partner.
Webb was pensions minister between 2010 and 2015 under the Conservative and Liberal Democrats coalition government. He left office after losing his Thornbury and Yate seat, which he had held since 2010, having previously been MP for Northavon since 1997.
Davidson said: “I love the values and philosophy of mutuals and I am delighted to be joining Royal London, which practises those values every day.
“It is a supportive and responsible employer and, as the UK’s largest mutual life insurer, it takes decisions for the long term, wholly focused on providing security to its millions of members and policy holders.
“I look forward to championing in the areas of diversity and social responsibility as Royal London continues to develop and deliver excellence.”
Royal London chairman Kevin Parry said he is very pleased Davidson has agreed to join the board: “She brings a deep understanding of contemporary societal issues, and is a strong advocate for diversity and a champion of advancing social and environmental responsibility.
“Ruth will be an invaluable and complementary asset to the Board as we continue to use our long-term approach as a mutual to shape the way we do business.”