Scottish Widows has appointed Jackie Leiper to the newly created role of protection director.

She will have overall accountability for the design and delivery of the protection business strategy and working across the group to optimise the proposition for customers and intermediaries.

Leiper (pictured) joins the protection team from her previous role as director of corporate pensions relationships.

Craig Thornton, general insurance & protection director at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jackie to the team and recognise the instrumental role she has played in corporate pensions for the last three years.

“Her experience, knowledge and expertise will be crucial in helping us to broaden our distribution of Scottish Widows Protect, and to become an even bigger player in the protection market. We’re very excited that she is joining our general insurance and protection senior leadership team.”

Leiper said: “I’ve been given a great opportunity to take the Protection proposition forward at such an exciting time in its development.

“I’m looking forward to exploring the possibilities for Scottish Widows, which as part of Lloyds Banking Group, is uniquely positioned to deliver its goal of protecting more customers, and to continue developing initiatives which will help to bridge the UK’s protection gap.”