Mel Rees Email & Phone Number

Whiteley, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Hove, Brighton And Hove, United Kingdom

I was responsible for producing product risk reviews for mature pension products, obtaining sign off and agreeing actions.

Reading, United Kingdom

In this role I produced a number of thematic product reviews for legacy pension products. Achieving sign off at senior level and agreed actions which I then managed to completion. I also sat on a number of projects as the product management team representative.

In this project role I have worked on the development of the international investment platform, initially responsible for drafting product specifications and obtaining agreement and sign off from key stake holders for all the 24 products to be supported by the platform. This involved meetings and workshops with representatives from across the business and the 3rd party supplier, this work was completed successfully within agreed timescales.Following completion of the product specification work my next role was the business lead for Pre Acceptance Testing and User Acceptance Testing in respect of all extranet functionality for the platform. This role required management/support of the business testing team and managing the interface with subject matter experts from across the business, the system provider and the 3rd party company providing test support. I was responsible for ensuring that the numerous test cycles were undertaken within agreed timescales including daily reporting to senior management this was successfully completed. I was required to work in India for a period of 6 weeks working with the software provider and a significant amount of time working in the Isle of Man offshore office.

Lead the cross-functional Wealth Management Steering Group in developing and implementing competitive strategy and plans for the Friends Provident wealth management businessDevelop and maintain the Friends Provident investment bond and Individual Pensions range to achieve agreed market competitiveness, sales volume and financial measures.Manage the development and production of literature, online and other communications material to support the achievement of proposition targetsManage the Life Technical team ensuring that an appropriate level and quality of technical support is provided to the businessRecommend and implement strategies and plans to improve the persistency of existing and new bond business Responsibility for the Investment Bond and Individual Pensions strand of the Friends Provident and AXA integration project.Member of a number of cross company management committees covering: Fund governance, proposition development process, treating customers fairly and risk management.

Responsibility for the development of the wrap proposition and ensuring the business is structured and resourced effectively in order to manage the wrap proposition pre and post launch.Managing a team of 5 managers and 50 team members responsible for marketing communications, fund selection, staff recruitment, office location and element of proposition design.Responsible for the budget of the strand and recruitment of both project and permanent staffMember of senior management team, attendance at weekly board meetings and design boards, requiring decision making authorityDefined the marketing strategy working closely with sales management and strategic marketing teamsResponsible for location of a new office from selection to occupancy including the recruitment of a team to administer the platformResponsible for fund strategy and fund selection for the platformResponsible for all literature and Marketing launch activity