Our senior management

Rodney Cook, Chief Executive

Rodney was appointed Chief Executive of the Company in July 2010. Previously, he was Managing Director, Life and Pensions of Liverpool Victoria (LV=). Rodney, a qualified actuary and an FSA Approved Person, has over 32 years’ experience in financial services, having led businesses in both the UK and Australasia.

He commenced his career with AMP, which culminated in his appointment as Managing Director of Pearl in 1999. This was followed by time at Zurich Financial Services as Customer Solutions Director, before joining Prudential as Prulab Director.

Rodney is a Director of Just Retirement (Holdings) Limited, Just Retirement Limited, Just Retirement Solutions Limited, Just Retirement Management Services Limited and TOMAS Acquisitions Limited. 

Simon Thomas, Finance Director

Simon was appointed Finance Director of the Company in July 2006. Previously, he was Finance and Customer Services Director at Canada Life Limited, the UK subsidiary of Great West Life. Prior to this, Simon was Head of Finance at HECM Limited (formerly Equitable Life) and spent ten years at Nationwide Building Society, latterly as Group Financial Controller.

Simon has over ten years’ experience in the UK life assurance industry, is a Chartered Accountant and an FSA Approved Person. 

He is a Director of Just Retirement (Holdings) Limited, Just Retirement Limited, Just Retirement Solutions Limited, Just Retirement Management Services Limited and TOMAS Acquisitions Limited.

Shayne Deighton, Risk & Actuarial Director

Shayne was appointed Group Chief Actuary of the Company in October 2008 and following that was appointed as Risk & Actuarial Director in January 2010. He was previously Group Financial Management Director at Aviva Plc and was at one time UK Life Finance Director for Zurich Financial Services. He has also been a Partner at Ernst & Young and Principal at Tillinghast, the consulting actuaries.

Shayne has over 25 years’ experience in the insurance industry, is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and an FSA Approved Person.He is a Director of Just Retirement (Holdings) Limited, Just Retirement Limited and Just Retirement Solutions Limited.

Chris Berryman, Operations Director

Chris has 20 years experience in the Financial Services industry, 15 of which have been in the retirement sector across a variety of roles including product development, service, IT, change management and actuarial modelling. He previously worked at NPI, GE and Britannic Group before, together with 5 other Directors, founding Just Retirement in 2004. Just Retirement listed on the AIM market in 2007 before being purchased by Permira in 2009.

Chris runs the Service, IT and Change Management divisions of the business. He is a Director of Just Retirement Limited and TOMAS Acquisitions Limited.

David Cooper, Marketing and Distribution Director

David has spent over 25 years working in financial services. He has operated in a number of sectors including retail banking, general insurance, personal credit, actuarial consulting and in recent years the retirement industry. He has worked for a variety of large organisations including GE Capital, Centrica plc and Bradford & Bingley as well as much smaller growth businesses such as Stalwart Assurance and Just Retirement.

David has now worked with the Just Retirement team for nearly five years supporting its meteoric rise as the UK’s leading retirement specialist. He is a Director of Just Retirement Limited and Just Retirement Solutions Limited.

Anne Ridge, HR Director

Anne joined Just Retirement in March 2010 as an interim Head of HR and was appointed HR Director in September 2010. 

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has over 25 years’ experience in Human Resources. Prior to joining Just Retirement she worked in a number of industries gaining experience in retail (at Marks & Spencer), the oil and gas sector (BP) and with Financial Services with the Britannic Group.