The Openwork Partnership is pleased to announce the appointment of Rob Barker as its new Chief Executive Officer
Rob Barker joins The Openwork Partnership with an impressive 30-year career, having held senior leadership roles in the insurance, wealth management and protection sectors. He was most recently Head of Insurance, Wealth & Asset Management EMEA for Alvarez & Marsal, who are globally renowned for performance improvement and value creation. Prior to this, he spent 10 years at Aviva including assignments as CEO of Wealth, Chair of Aviva Health and CEO of Protection & Health.
Rob will take up his position in September, with interim CEO Philip Howell resuming his role as Executive Chairman, where he will continue to lend his exceptional experience to support Openwork along its growth journey. Duncan Crocker, who stepped into the Chair through completion of the Bain Capital transaction, will also now return to his position as Senior Independent Director.
Howell, commented “2025 is proving to be a momentous year for The Openwork Partnership as we embark on an exciting chapter with the support of Bain Capital. The group is now primed for growth on all fronts with a particular focus on increasing adviser headcount, introducing new technology solutions and facilitating partner succession. These form the bedrock of our strategy to support more advisers in providing lifetime advice to more clients, and Rob’s track record in leading distribution, driving operational efficiency and leveraging innovative technology set him apart as the CEO of choice for us.”
Rob Barker added, “I feel privileged to be taking the helm of The Openwork Partnership at a time when it holds so much opportunity. The business has a rich history built over decades by its dedicated partners and is defined by its commitment to clients. I am excited by the prospect of working with my new colleagues, our partners and Bain Capital to achieve our full potential.”