Guardian has announced the appointment of Carlton Hood as its new chief executive officer, effective from 1 May, subject to regulatory approval.

Hood, the former Group CEO of Responsible Life, will take over the leadership of Guardian’s Executive Team.

This includes Duncan Mosely (chief operating officer), Nischal Singh (chief financial officer), Hilary Banks (commercial director), and Ruth Starsmeare (group chief technology officer).

Guardian offers life, critical illness and income cover among other products.

Peter Mann, who has served as interim CEO and chairman since 2018, will move into the role of non-executive chairman.

Hood will be responsible for delivering the strategy outlined by Mann in October 2024, with a focus on strengthening partnerships with firms that share Guardian’s commitment to improving customer outcomes.

Mann said: “The Board and I are delighted to welcome Carlton to Guardian. His experience of driving growth and shareholder value, while prioritising customer outcomes, makes him a perfect fit for the next phase of Guardian’s journey.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with him at Old Mutual, now Quilter, and his motivation and commitment are second to none.”

With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Hood joins Guardian after leading Responsible Life, an equity release broker and lender within Royal London. During his tenure, the business saw significant growth.

His previous roles include Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual (now Quilter), where he launched major investment and protection solutions, and CEO of Confused.com, where he helped drive the company’s growth amid a tech-driven transformation in general insurance.

Hood holds an MBA from INSEAD and has a professional background in strategy and marketing.

“I’ve always believed that financial services, done right, can transform lives,” said Hood. “Protection is one of the most powerful examples of this.”

“The UK life insurance market needs fresh thinking – not just to meet regulatory requirements, but to redefine how protection works for customers and advisers.”

He added: “Guardian has already built a strong reputation for service and innovation. The next stage is to turn that into sustainable market leadership.

“I’m excited to join the team and help ensure we stay ahead of change and continue to raise the bar for customer outcomes.”