imported>Neurtaisl at 05:44, 30 May 2025

2025-05-30T05:44:12Z

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{{Short description|English businessman and philanthropist (born 1963)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Sir Clive Cowdery
| image =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1963|05|26}}
| birth_place = [[Bristol]], England
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| nationality = British
| education = [[Clevedon Community School|Clevedon Comprehensive School]]
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| occupation = Businessman
| title =
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| known for = Founder of Resolution, a global life insurance group
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| children = 6
| parents =
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| website =
}}

'''Sir Clive Cowdery''' (born 26 May 1963)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cave |first=Andrew |date=15 November 2008 |title=Clive Cowdery's Resolution rises again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/insurance/3464929/Clive-Cowderys-Resolution-rises-again.html |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> is an English businessman and philanthropist who made a personal fortune in the [[insurance industry]], founding two FTSE100 insurers and a third insurer which has deployed circa $5bn in capital with $90bn in assets.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Resolution Life enters into reinsurance agreement with Allianz Life {{!}} Resolution Life|url=https://www.resolutionlife.com/news-and-insights/resolution-life-enters-into-reinsurance-agreement-with-allianz-life/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.resolutionlife.com}}</ref> Cowdery has since donated large amounts to charity,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Cooney|first=Rebecca|title=Wealthiest people gave £3.2bn to charity in the past year|url=https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/article/1432145|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.thirdsector.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> including the [[Resolution Foundation]] which he founded in 2005.<ref name=":2" />

==Early life==
Born of Anglo Danish parentage<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/28/clive-cowdery-goes-on-mission-to-help-poor|title = Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery goes on a mission to help the working poor| newspaper=The Guardian |date = 28 February 2011| last1=Ramesh | first1=Randeep }}</ref> in [[Bristol]], England, in 1963, he is the second of five siblings.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/profile-clive-cowdery-class-act-who-worked-his-way-to-top-1-764997|title=Profile: Clive Cowdery: Class act who worked his way to top|date=14 August 2009|work=The Scotsman|accessdate=18 December 2017}}</ref> He was educated at Clevedon Comprehensive School (now [[Clevedon Community School]]), and earned three O-levels and no A-levels.<ref name="Scotsman"/>

==Career==
Cowdery is founder and executive chairman of [[Resolution plc|Resolution Life]], a global life insurance group focusing on the acquisition and management of portfolios of life insurance policies.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-10-18|title=Resolution's Cowdery has $2 bln life insurance deal in sight|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/resolution-strategy-idUKL8N1WR5L5|access-date=2022-02-23}}</ref>

From 1998 to 2003, Cowdery was chairman and chief executive of [[General Electric]] Insurance Holdings, with operations in 12 countries in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-06-10|title=The Interview: The insurance entrepreneur soon to be knocking at the FTSE 100's door|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/the-interview-the-insurance-entrepreneur-soon-to-be-knocking-at-the-ftse-100-s-door-225334.html|access-date=2022-02-22|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

In 2003, Cowdery founded his private company [[Resolution plc|Resolution]], which invests in life insurance consolidation. Since then, Cowdery’s Resolution companies have deployed c. US$17 billion of equity in the acquisition, reinsurance, consolidation and management of life insurance companies. Together, these companies have served the needs of c. 13 million policyholders while managing over US$365 billion of assets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Resolution Life|url=https://www.resolutionlife.com/about-us/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.resolutionlife.com}}</ref>

His first Resolution vehicle consolidated four major UK closed life insurance companies from Royal Sun Alliance, Swiss Life, Britannic and Santander (Abbey National Life).<ref>{{Cite news|title=The rise of Resolution|newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/the-rise-of-resolution-d78lbknf7h5|access-date=2022-02-22|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> The [[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE100]] insurer was sold to [[Phoenix Group|Pearl Group]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costello|first=Miles|title=Upstart Cowdery shows how it's done|newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/upstart-cowdery-shows-how-its-done-0nc0vvhdqtz|access-date=2022-01-12|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

His second Resolution vehicle merged FTSE100 insurer [[Friends Provident]] with [[AXA]]'s UK life business and other assets. The company was sold to [[Aviva]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costello|first=Miles|title=Friends Life agrees £5bn takeover by Aviva|newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/friends-life-agrees-5bn-takeover-by-aviva-l5vf6dgxll6|access-date=2022-01-12|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

These two completed projects made significant total returns for shareholders.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Alistair|last2=Oakley|first2=David|last3=Massoudi|first3=Arash|date=2014-12-02|title=Aviva agrees £5bn takeover of Friends Life|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/46260564-79f2-11e4-8958-00144feabdc0|access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Guthrie|first=Jonathan|date=2014-12-02|title=Work to do before Aviva investors welcome Friends|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6fcaa550-7a0b-11e4-8958-00144feabdc0|access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-08-13|title=Interview {{!}} Clive Cowdery|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/aug/13/clive-cowdery-resolution-interview|access-date=2022-02-22|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

His current business, Resolution Life, was founded in 2018 and today manages c.$90 billion of assets, employs c. 1,800 people and provide services to over 3m policyholders. It has operations in Bermuda, the U.K., the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, all focused on assisting the restructuring of the primary life insurance industry globally.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Artemis.bm|first=Steven Evans-|date=2021-05-14|title=Cowdery's Resolution raises $1.6bn for legacy life insurance investments - Artemis.bm|url=https://www.artemis.bm/news/cowderys-resolution-raises-1-6bn-for-legacy-life-insurance-investments/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Artemis.bm - The Catastrophe Bond, Insurance Linked Securities & Investment, Reinsurance Capital, Alternative Risk Transfer and Weather Risk Management site|language=English}}</ref>

According to The ''[[Sunday Times Rich List]]'' in 2019 his net worth was estimated at £137 million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2019|website=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/sunday-times-rich-list-2019-profiles-864-900-rory-mcilroy-phil-collins-john-deacon-vlps2cp9p|access-date=}}</ref>

In April 2025, Cowdery acquired an equity stake in [[The Observer]] and joined the media outlet's board.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Helen |date=2025-04-25 |title=Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery takes stake in The Observer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/insurance-tycoon-clive-cowdery-takes-stake-in-the-observer-jjtt5pkqd |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> His equity stake follows the sale of the newspaper to [[Tortoise Media]] in December 2024.<ref name=":3" />

==Charitable works==
Since formation of his Resolution vehicles Cowdery has devoted half of all proceeds to charity.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Neville|first=Sarah|date=2015-04-30|title=Clive Cowdery donates £50m to research living standards|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3abfe1fc-eaab-11e4-96ec-00144feab7de|access-date=2022-02-25}}</ref> The [[Resolution Foundation]], an independent social and economic research organisation set up by Cowdery in 2005, purports to be one of Britain's leading authorities on low earners<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Our mission • Resolution Foundation|url=https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/about-us/mission/|access-date=2022-02-23|language=en-US}}</ref> and the policy responses required to lift their living standards.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-02-28|title=Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery goes on a mission to help the working poor|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/28/clive-cowdery-goes-on-mission-to-help-poor|access-date=2022-02-22|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Neville|first=Sarah|date=2015-04-30|title=Clive Cowdery donates £50m to research living standards|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3abfe1fc-eaab-11e4-96ec-00144feab7de|access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref>

==Other professional interests==
Cowdery is owner and publisher of the magazine ''[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alan Rusbridger to be next editor of Prospect magazine|url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/alan-rusbridger-to-be-next-editor-of-prospect-magazine-18741|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.inpublishing.co.uk|date=27 July 2021 }}</ref> and a member of the governing council of The [[Institute for New Economic Thinking]]. Until February 2021,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cessation|url=https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/FBDhNsgItlZ8Pkqwbxnfvesf7uCiB44hEFDIcqEz2q8/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3LIU4F32Y%2F20210211%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210211T120808Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMD%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQDkTj10H%2BQ9NsOwfxXF6I5mjovM7jXwag8KkdFcdH8jlQIhAMcVonggKqwwbWrdQXmMooCuNF%2Bcqxz1hyRPI8cIS%2FcTKr0DCLn%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEQAxoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgzG1G4XQng0i7Dd1fAqkQPQBiTjJHkDJA9bz8pWY5FJ0wx9m1Zf32szI2N2rvo8Icemab6f4pHDQ37rw%2FZERjRewFm192pUYCUT9tyopsIpsbsHc5LVknHJjX1A7RsKba3CUyzuO2LBfiH8tuUpqrNpUQfZhwzs8%2FCBRPPbbJ7ezrZHRUEx4oM%2FbTkh2Krh6JqM4g8R6CCcuwSvuf7nu31u%2FXwWrecxZaE0xg8RPPL3UK9Q1jDgZ9wtC8t9nRgdW75qG7xdYKPW333bZ3hwSTU5b1Cl5rHlCYKsFLBgaiYlxmFvOb5bKVMZu8%2B64wa3dRcP7uZy5DXk2wU3oTuI%2F102JUn4kJCRL7Cbj7f%2BnsxbW1AocAX%2Bnrtepa3kqbi54RaObEWXIiscenSfJcqBSHNiNqOSaaM3nBMWG7TYm0Yt0qXPho8HiFU2d6PQGbtFJ%2BKO3cPotkhNc1IDYwtJNxv5kso3WvHEmuOllXxJ3DT%2FEPsguCDNX9rbx98WgWmRACUXU%2Bl7MiHlwmVOWkAKIwRBL1W0aPDjXD0WCVmpi8OHMjCDwJOBBjrqAXxjIbpw%2B%2BYKk5S6CYz0W2nN7rq1P1hY0VcyLJKEWNBrU%2BP5JlZ5XNjJfTYIIKSfeMg5vx2XBeoZtPDm105m5MgmKoLsBLcIr4TdFpcc1MEzzA%2FXv%2FLsKV3mTsZokhD7tEMejNpJdO4bkF0zoULtuA2MOjgFHvaF6LIwyL156t5EPHBX4MsJOC6QPCNb4s3XWM8IikOGp%2BecYD5EOPRXMaKx8ppWaZDKP9TZRe2SoAbzeUQhgpyhCZUgtMv7kYa%2BRhGCQGKwG%2Fko8OqkbdEB0JrC83H3x%2Fu4Kl8MC%2FW%2B2M4rKLuFE4goMOcTuA%3D%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=cc0531c2e11fac17804ead9af81277a2027fd827dd1f8143a45cf1c895d6ef9d |publisher=Companies House |accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref> he was also a director of [[Best for Britain]], a group campaigning to stop [[Brexit]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestforbritain.org/|title=About Us|website=bestforbritain.org|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512121030/https://bestforbritain.org/|archive-date=12 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10436078/officers|title=UK-EU OPEN POLICY LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cowdery lives in London and has six children.<ref name="Scotsman"/>

Cowdery was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2016 New Year Honours]] for services to children and social mobility.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 61450
| date = 30 December 2015
| page = N2
| supp = y
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=30 December 2015 |title=New Year's Honours 2016 list |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489049/NY2016HonoursFullList.pdf |accessdate=30 December 2015 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jun/24/bradfordbingleybusiness.banking3?gusrc=rss&feed=business Profile] in [[The Guardian]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110612074633/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article534781.ece?print=no&randnum=1223548652540 Interview] from [[The Times]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130226235532/http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/us/Q-A/ Resolution Foundation]
* https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/28/clive-cowdery-goes-on-mission-to-help-poor

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowdery, Clive}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English businesspeople]]
[[Category:English philanthropists]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:English people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) donors]]

Clive Cowdery - Revision history

imported>Neurtaisl at 05:44, 30 May 2025