Standard Life welcomes second woman director to board

Published on Tuesday 23 June 2009 21:36

A HIGH-flying Canadian businesswoman was yesterday unveiled by Standard Life as the assuer's new non-executive director.

Sheelagh Whittaker will join the Edinburgh-based group's board in September, it was announced yesterday.

She becomes Standard Life's second woman director, joining Labour peer Baroness Margaret McDonagh as a non-executive.

Gerry Grimstone, Standard Life's chairman, said he was "delighted" to welcome Whittaker, a former broadcasting executive, to the board.

Grimstone commented: "Over her career to date, she has demonstrated significant success at senior executive level in terms of transformation, innovation and leadership.

"In particular, her international experience, especially of North American markets, will be very beneficial to the board's deliberations."

Whittaker's appointment follows the recent departure of another female Canadian board member at Standard Life, Jocelyn Proteau, the former chairman of the group's operations in Canada.

Sir Sandy Crombie, Standard's chief executive, became chairman of the Canadian division following the May AGM, with the company saying the move was meant to unite the life assurer's global business.

Whittaker, 62, has spent much of her career in senior positions with Electronic Data Systems, retiring as MD of public sector business, EDS UK, Africa and Middle East in 2005.

Before joining EDS in 1993, she held executive positions with Canadian Satellite Communications Inc and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Whittaker was a non-executive director of the Royal Bank of Canada from 1993 to 2001.

She has also previously been awarded the title of Woman of the Year by Canadian Women in Radio and Television.