Monday, October 07, 2024

The Baron Leitch 1947-2024

 Lord Leitch, a life Baron, died 5 October, 2024. He was 76.

He was a businessman who was Group Chairman of FNZ, a global wealth management technology platform. He was also a Labour life peer, sitting in the House of Lords from 2004 until his death.

Alexander Park Leitch was born 20 October, 1947.

Career: In 1965, "Sandy" Leitch started his career as a computer programmer, writing the first ever UK life assurance ‘search engine’ program in 1967. He remained in the insurance industry throughout his early career, rising to become Chief Executive of Allied Dunbar, Executive Chair of Eagle Star and Threadneedle Asset Management before they were eventually merged with Zurich Financial Services in 1998. He was then appointed as a Chief Executive of Zurich Financial Services. He retired in 2004.

Leitch was raised to the peerage for life in June, 2004, taking the title Baron Leitch, of Oakley in Fife.  

In 2017 he set up the ‘What Is More?’ Foundation, to encourage spiritual and multi-faith debate. He also became a patron of the Stroke Association and the Medical Aid Films Charity where he was formerly founding Chairman. Lord Leitch was Deputy Chair of Business in the Community and received the Prince of Wales Ambassador award for charity work. Leitch was Group Chairman at FNZ, the global wealth management technology platform which partners with over 800 financial institutions and 8,000 wealth management firms. He was appointed to this role in 2013, and saw the company’s market value grow from $200 million to $20 billion over his tenure.

Leitch was previously founder and Chairman of Intrinsic Financial Services. Additionally, he was chairman at Scottish Widows plc, deputy chairman at Lloyds Banking Group plc, and on the Board of Old Mutual Wealth. He was a Trustee of the Lloyds Banking Group Charitable Foundation.

He was Chancellor of Carnegie College, chairman of a new think tank called ‘The Centre for Modern Families’ and strategic adviser to a Prince of Wales charity called PRIME. He was chairman of BUPA 2007-2018, and on the board of Lloyds Banking Group plc (2005–2012) – a board member with a variety of roles including Chairman of Scottish Widows plc, LBG Risk Oversight Committee Chair, LBG senior independent director and finally as LBG deputy chair. With Paternoster UK Ltd (2006–2010) – non-executive director for four years before selling the company to Goldman Sachs. Chair and chief executive, Zurich Financial Services UK, Ireland, South Africa and Asia Pacific. Chair of the Association of British Insurers. At United Business Media plc (2005–2007) – as a non-executive director and senior independent director. Medical Aid Films – Founding Chair of infant and maternal mortality charity. He served as a Trustee of National Galleries of Scotland. He was Chair of Stonar School in Wiltshire, and Trustee of the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Education Fund.

Lord Leitch leaves a widow Noelle. He had three daughters Fiona, Jacqueline and Joanne from his first marriage, and a young daughter Kathleen and two sons from his second marriage. 

He was a Freeman of the City of London. He had an honorary doctorate in business administration and a fellowship from Carnegie College.

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