Standard Life has appointed Emma Furlonger as Managing Director of its Workplace and Retail Intermediary businesses. She has led the businesses on an interim basis since April 2026, following Gail Izat’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer for its Pensions and Savings business. 

Emma has nearly 30 years’ experience in the pensions and long-term savings industry, spanning workplace pensions, intermediary distribution, client relationships and business growth. She joined Standard Life in 2021 as Head of DC Workplace Distribution before becoming Workplace Trading Director in 2025. Before joining Standard Life, she held senior roles at Legal & General, Aviva, Friends Life and Friends Provident.

Her appointment comes as Standard Life continues to strengthen its position in workplace pensions and grow its Retail Intermediary business. The businesses play an important role in Standard Life’s focus on retirement savings and income, supporting members and customers, employers, trustees and advisers with long-term financial planning. 

In recent years, Standard Life’s multi-award-winning Workplace business has grown to become one of the UK’s leading providers, now supporting around 3 million members. The company has also set out a clear direction for its Retail Intermediary business, building on established strengths including its off-platform SIPP, bond range, smoothed fund propositions and annuity offering.

Angela Byrne

I'm pleased to confirm Emma Furlonger’s appointment as Managing Director of our Workplace and Retail Intermediary businesses. Emma brings a deep understanding of our customers, advisers and strategic priorities, alongside strong leadership experience. These businesses are central to our growth plans, and Emma is well placed to help us build on that momentum and support better outcomes for customers, employers and advisers.

- CEO of Pensions and Savings at Standard Life

Emma Furlonger

I'm delighted to have been appointed to this role. We've built strong momentum across Workplace and Retail Intermediary, with a clear focus on delivering good outcomes for members, customers and advisers. I look forward to building on that progress as we continue to invest in our propositions, support more people with their long-term finances and help drive the next phase of growth for the business.

- Managing Director of Workplace and Retail Intermediary

Media enquiries

For further information, photos, video content or interviews, contact:

  • Louise Bryans

    Public Relations Manager, Workplace & Adviser
    Telephone

    07974 063067

    Email

    louise_bryans@standardlife.com     

Notes to editors:

About Standard Life

Standard Life is a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement saving and income. 
We are proud to manage around c£317bn in assets on behalf of our 12 million customers, and we champion the belief that everyone's journey to and through retirement can be better. 

With our focus entirely on retirement savings and income we want to be the business that people trust to guide their retirement journey, helping our customers achieve better outcomes and greater financial security in later life. 

As a FTSE 100-listed group we are using our size, expertise and influence to shape the world our customers will retire into, and are committed to helping three million more customers by 2035, take action towards a better retirement. 

Standard Life is a responsible investor with a clear commitment to supporting a more sustainable future. The Group has achieved its net zero goal across its emissions for 2025 and is working towards net zero investment portfolios by 2050 or sooner.

Standard Life is recognised as a leading employer, with long-standing accreditation as a Living Wage Employer, Living Pension Employer and Carer Positive Exemplary Employer and in 2025 became one of Britain’s Most Admired Companies in 2025.