Spiritual sanctuary succeeds demolition and Debenhams

clock

Recovering from dinner at No.11 Downing Street and a night out at the well-known Ronnie Scott's jazz club, Standard Life's John Lawson turns up for an early morning interview looking remarkably bright-eyed and bushy-tailed despite admitting to ‘feeling a bit fogged'.

Given his activity the previous evening, my first question is how do you to top dinner with the chancellor? But no, “He wasn’t there,” says Lawson, “we were just using his house, although it was a bit weird seeing all the toys out in the back garden from where the Prime Minister and his family live there.” Financial services is not the career John Lawson had first considered, so how exactly does a computer science graduate from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh end up as the head of pensions policy at a company like Standard life? “Well I just sort of fell into it,” says Lawson. “I ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

PA Asks: Should the FCA intervene to tackle pension delays?

PA Asks: Should the FCA intervene to tackle pension delays?

Plus, did the FCA's consolidation review go far enough?

Professional Adviser
clock 07 November 2025 • 1 min read
FE Fundinfo expands adviser platform with acquisition of Contengo

FE Fundinfo expands adviser platform with acquisition of Contengo

Deal intended to strengthen Nexus platform

Sahar Nazir
clock 07 November 2025 • 2 min read
Advisers warned against 'tick-box' cashflow modelling

Advisers warned against 'tick-box' cashflow modelling

Cashflow modelling ‘only as good as the information you put in’

Sahar Nazir
clock 06 November 2025 • 5 min read