Friends Provident chief Trevor Matthews takes on chairman's role at rejuvenated FSSC

FRIENDS Provident boss Trevor Matthews has been named as the chairman of the newly-relicensed Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC).

Matthews – formerly chief executive of Standard Life's UK life and pensions business – takes on the role just weeks after the FSSC's future was secured with the award of a new government licence.

The FSSC, which leads education, training and skills development in the accounting and financial services sector, had been forced to undertake a strategic review after the UK Commission for Employment and Skills withheld its relicensing last year, leading to the departure of then chief executive Theresa Sayers. Matthews succeeds Roy Leighton, who stepped down having steered the FSSC's strategic review and relicensing. Matthews said: "Today's economy is overwhelmingly driven by the knowledge and skills of individuals, and nowhere more so than in finance, accountancy and financial services.

"By working in full partnership with employers, professional bodies and education providers, we will ensure the sector is able to attract the talent and develop the skills needed to remain the world's leading financial services centre."

He joins a board that includes former Financial Services Authority chief executive John Tiner, Angela Knight, the chief executive of the British Bankers' Association, and Standard Life managing director John Gill.

Meanwhile, Prudential yesterday revealed that Rob Devey, who oversaw the integration of the Halifax and Bank of Scotland retail banking businesses, would oversee the consolidation of Prudential Asia and Asian insurance group AIA, which the Pru is set to buy from AIG in a deal worth 23 billion.

Devey, who left Lloyds Banking Group last September to become chief executive of Prudential UK and Europe, also led the integration of the direct channels of HBOS and Lloyds.

Tidjane Thiam, chief executive of the Pru, commented: "The appointment of an executive director to lead this effort is a clear indication of how crucial a successful integration is for the future of our company."