Lord Alexander Leitch
Group Chairman
Lord Leitch was appointed as Chairman of the FNZ Group Board in July 2013. With a deep and broad knowledge of insurance, financial services and healthcare gained over 50 years as a senior executive in a number of major international businesses, Lord Leitch is also a Life Peer and has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2004.
Growing up in Dunfermline, Scotland, Lord Leitch began his career in London as a computer programmer, creating the first ever UK life assurance search engine program in 1967. He remained in the insurance industry throughout his career, becoming Chief Executive of Allied Dunbar and Executive Chair of Eagle Star and Threadneedle Asset Management before they merged with Zurich Financial Services in 1998.
Lord Leitch has an unrivalled breadth of experience as a leader in business with wide-ranging interest across societal issues.
Among other roles, he has held positions including: Chairman of Bupa; Chairman of Intrinsic Financial Services; Chairman and Chief Executive of Zurich Financial Services UK, Ireland, South Africa and Asia Pacific; Deputy Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group plc; Chairman of Scottish Widows plc; Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Education Fund; and Chairman of the Association of British Insurers. He has also served on a number of plc Boards and in various Non-Executive Director roles.
In 2006, he undertook the Leitch Review of Skills and Productivity, advising the UK government on how to define the UK’s optimal skills mix in order to maximise economic growth and productivity. The recommendations became public policy.
A firm campaigner and champion for employee volunteering, workplace diversity and a passionate supporter of organisations that aim to make a positive difference across a wide range of areas.
Lord Leitch has received the Prince of Wales Ambassador award for charity work.
In 2017, he created the What Is More? Foundation, encouraging spiritual and multi-faith debate, while he remains a patron of the Stroke Association and the Medical Aid Films Charity where he was formerly founding Chairman.