• The new Managing Director brings 30 years of experience in life and pensions, general insurance, health insurance and wealth to oversee the practice’s continued expansion
• The appointment builds on sustained global growth of the firm’s unique, integrated Financial Services Industry offering

London – 11 June 2024 – Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has appointed Managing Director Rob Barker as its new EMEA Head of Insurance, Wealth and Asset Management. The appointment is the latest strategic move for its integrated Financial Services Industry (FSI) advisory services network.

Bringing 30 years of experience in financial services in the UK, Europe and Africa, Mr Barker will oversee the firm’s provision of specialist advice and practical support to executive clients facing a need for value-creation, transformation and results. Based in London, he works alongside A&M’s team of senior practitioners across EMEA supporting insurance, asset and wealth management clients.

Prior to joining A&M, Mr Barker led Aviva’s Wealth, Pensions, Savings and Advice businesses as the regulated CEO. He was also the regulated Chairman of the Aviva Health insurance business. Previously, he led the Aviva Life Protection businesses and Health Insurance business as the regulated CEO, and before that led Aviva’s UK-wide Distribution and Propositions, including Strategic Partnerships (Bancassurance). Prior to that, Mr Barker worked in Africa with the then Imperial Group, the Standard Bank Group and the Hollard Group as a Group General Manager, Managing Director and Chairman.

Mr Barker is active in venture capital funds and startups across Europe and the UK as a Limited Partner, Investor and Senior Adviser. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Institute in the US.

The appointment builds on sustained development of A&M’s cross-sector, global FSI practice. Last year, A&M added 20 Managing Directors to its EMEA FSI network, taking on new expertise in wealth and asset management and digital in the UK and portfolio advisory in the UAE; consolidating M&A expertise both in France and across EMEA; and making senior hires in Austria, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland. This year the firm consolidated and expanded its FSI footprint in the US, with senior wealth and asset management specialists among a dedicated new team of 13 Managing Directors.

David Edmonds, Managing Director and Global FSI Co-Lead, said, “This is the latest step in A&M’s FSI success story, designed to help meet clients’ demand for integrated insights across the firm’s network. Our expertise spans everything from digital transformation and revenue enhancement to elevating customer experiences; from risk management and navigating regulatory landscapes to performance improvement and delivering comprehensive end-to-end M&A services. Traditional competitors just cannot offer such interconnectivity, or such a range of in-house capabilities and sector expertise. It’s what makes A&M unique, so we’re doubling down on our investment. We are committed to helping our insurance, wealth and asset management clients unlock value – and Rob’s leadership is critical to this mission.”

Mr Barker added, “A&M’s experts aren’t just advisers; our team are seasoned professionals who bring together decades’ worth of experience tackling some of the most intricate cases and walking in the client's shoes. Taking a genuine ‘skin in the game’ approach – linked to our clients' success – we’re not afraid to take a turnaround mindset. We ask the tough questions so that executives can focus on catalysing growth, profitability and creating material commercial value. There’s a real ambition in the team as it continues to grow across EMEA, and I’m keen to help channel that energy.”