Standard Life to axe 139 jobs

Standard Life has announced plans to cut almost 140 jobs as the firm goes through a restructuring process.

The company said the majority of the 139 job losses would be at its Edinburgh base and came as a result of a new operational model which was announced in August.

In a statement, Standard Life said regulatory changes such as the retail distribution review and auto-enrolment change the way customers, advisers and employers engage, providing "significant opportunity" in the years ahead.

It said the business is focused on growing across all its key markets, with a flexible operating model needed.

The company said the restructuring announced today would lead to "more streamlined and flexible" structures in its UK divisions, including in IT, customer and marketing and investments.

Chief executive officer Paul Matthews said: "A lot of great progress has been made getting Standard Life ready for the retail distribution review and pensions reform.

"These initiatives significantly change the way customers engage with us.

"Our current model and structure has to change to meet the changing demands of this new world where customers will want to interact in different ways for different products.

"The changes being proposed today fundamentally change how we're organised so that our customers can have a greater experience with Standard Life."

PA