Richard Overson, group director at Key Retirement, is the council’s first board director to represent an adviser firm and boasts more than 20 years of experience in the sales and advice side of Key’s business.
Steve Ellis, managing director of Legal & General Home Finance, has also been elected to the board, while Vanessa Owen, head of retirement solutions products at LV=, and Steve Kyle, risk and compliance director at Just Retirement, have both been re-elected.
Separately, with effect from May 2017, the council has confirmed the latest appointments of industry experts to its Standards Board. The Standards Board is responsible for maintaining, developing and promoting the rules and guidance and the statement of principles that all council members agree to. The new appointments are:
- Provider representative: David Forsdyke, head of compliance (equity release) at Retirement Advantage
- Adviser representative: Susan Jeffery, financial adviser at Ainsdale Finance Ltd
- Solicitor representative: Claire Barker, managing director of Equilaw
- Surveyor representative: Mel Kettle, director client services at Gateway Surveyors
Nigel Waterson, chairman of the Equity Release Council, said: “Our new directors bring a wealth of experience and expert knowledge to the table, helping us represent this fast-growing market and steer the next phase of its evolution.
“The rapid growth in demand for equity release products demonstrates the growing importance of housing wealth as a necessary source of income in later life. The Council is focused – now more than ever – on supporting this momentum, and facilitating the safe growth of the equity release sector.”
