Howden, the new name for Aston Lark
Operations Director
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Operations Director - Private Clients
Flexible within the UK, with an expectation to be in our London office approximately two to three days per week. Regular in-person collaboration with Executive stakeholders is a key part of the role.
We're looking for an experienced Operations Director to help shape the next phase of growth for our Private Clients business.
Following the integration of our Insurance, Mortgage and Wealth propositions, this role will play a pivotal part in building the operating model, leadership capability and transformation agenda required to support significant growth and long-term success. Working closely with the CEO, CFO and Executive Leadership Team, you'll be responsible for ensuring the business has the operational capability, scalability and resilience to support its ambitious plans, while delivering outstanding client, commercial and regulatory outcomes.
Business Scale
Today, our Private Clients business operates at scale and is entering a period of continued growth, transformation and integration:
- Circa 600 employees, with plans to grow to 900 over the next five years
- 30 locations globally
- Current revenue of £90m, with a strategic plan to grow to £150m
- Leadership responsibility for a large operational function, including direct and indirect leadership
- Ongoing acquisition, integration and business transformation activity
The Opportunity
Our Private Clients business brings together Insurance, Mortgages and Wealth propositions, creating a significant opportunity to drive greater alignment across the organisation. A key priority will be driving integration across the business, helping previously separate propositions operate more effectively as one organisation while unlocking greater collaboration, consistency and efficiency.
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Alongside this, you'll lead a significant transformation agenda focused on improving business performance, enhancing customer outcomes, strengthening operational resilience and ensuring the business is positioned for sustained success.
This is a highly visible leadership role, offering the opportunity to influence strategic direction and play a central role in shaping the future of the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and continually evolve the operating model to support growth, efficiency, scalability and service excellence.
- Own the operational transformation agenda, ensuring initiatives are aligned to business strategy and deliver measurable commercial and operational outcomes.
- Drive improvements across productivity, service, quality, customer experience and cost performance measures.
- Identify opportunities to leverage technology, data, automation and AI to enhance operational effectiveness and decision-making.
- Lead the integration of acquired businesses and realise associated operational and commercial synergies.
- Establish and maintain robust operational governance, risk and resilience frameworks.
- Build and develop a high-performing Operations leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Partner closely with Executive stakeholders to influence decision-making and support the delivery of strategic objectives.
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience leading large-scale operational functions within Insurance, Wealth, Mortgages or other regulated financial services environments.
- Experience operating at a comparable level of organisational complexity, with responsibility for significant budgets, multiple management layers and geographically dispersed teams.
- A track record of delivering operational excellence, transformation and measurable business improvement.
- Demonstrable experience leading organisations through growth, integration, acquisition or operating model change.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with accountability for performance, efficiency and cost management.
- Experience building and developing leadership teams and creating high-performance cultures.
- Highly effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge at Executive level.
- Strong understanding of governance, risk and regulatory requirements within customer-focused environments.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and execution.
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Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to influence the future of a business at a pivotal stage in its evolution. You'll join a leadership team responsible for bringing together Insurance, Mortgage and Wealth propositions into one integrated Private Clients business, shaping how it operates, grows and delivers for clients.
With revenue expected to increase from £90m to £150m and headcount growing from 600 to 900 employees, you'll play a central role in delivering the operational capability, transformation and leadership needed to support that ambition.
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