Howden strengthens employee benefits leadership with senior technology and operations appointments

Howden Employee Benefits has strengthened its senior leadership team with two appointments focused on technology, operations and employee engagement as it expands its UK benefits business.

Peter Murphy has taken on an expanded role as Chief Operating Officer across Howden’s combined UK employee benefits business, while Jeff Fox has been appointed Executive Director, Platform and Engagement Solutions in a newly created role.

Murphy, who has served as Chief Operating Officer of Howden’s Employee Benefits division for six years, now has responsibility across a UK business comprising 2,600 colleagues.

The expanded business brings together Howden’s existing Employee Benefits team with colleagues from recent acquisitions including Barnett Waddingham, the employee benefits consultancy arm of Evelyn Partners and Hymans Robertson’s Insurance and Financial Services Consulting Team.

Murphy will lead operational delivery and technology-enabled transformation, with a focus on developing a single operating platform to support the business’s growth.

Commenting in his new role, Murphy said: “This business has changed enormously in a short space of time, and that is exactly why this new role matters now. My focus is on making sure the operational, technology and data foundations match the ambition.

“In practice that means stronger connectivity across our systems and processes, better use of the data we hold and simpler ways of working across teams. Get that right and clients feel it in the quality and consistency of what we deliver, and colleagues feel it every day.”

Fox brings more than 25 years’ experience across employee benefits technology, digital transformation and the people-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

He joins Howden from Lockton, where he was Specialty Services Lead. He previously spent 11 years at Aon as a Principal and has also held senior consultancy roles at Benefex, Mercer and KPMG.

According to Howden, the appointments reflect its investment in technology, data and automation.  In a statement, the company added that its approach is intended to help employers create a more connected employee benefits experience, spanning workforce insight and advice through to benefit selection, delivery, communication and engagement.

The focus is particularly relevant as employers invest in a growing range of health, wellbeing and financial benefits but still face the challenge of ensuring employees understand and use the support available to them.

Howden’s investment comes as there is an increasing convergence of benefits, workforce technology and employee experience. As benefits portfolios become more complex, providers are increasingly looking at how data, technology and communication can help employees navigate and engage with the health, financial and wellbeing support available to them.