Kirsty Polley has over 15 years’ experience in financial services, across wealth management and business process outsourcing.

She was most recently a senior manager in the life and pensions division of SS&C Technologies for the St James’ Place Wealth Management account, where she spent the past five years.

Before this, she was operations and finance manager for the leading UK legal support and managed services firm Intelligent Office UK.

At Scottish Friendly, Ms Polley will oversee all customer service teams, including the group’s contact centre, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the group.

Polley, who has an honours degree in both accountancy and law, will also help drive business improvements and efficiencies across customer services.

Last year, Scottish Friendly signed an agreement to take over a substantial book of life and pensions business from Canada Life, with the transfer expected to complete later this year, subject to regulatory and Court approval.

Jim Galbraith, chief executive at Scottish Friendly, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kirsty as our new head of client services. The experience she brings will be invaluable as we continue on our recruitment drive ahead of the transfer of the Canada Life book of business to Scottish Friendly later this year.”

Kirsty Polley said: “I’m delighted to be joining a company with a business culture where we all work together to provide the most efficient and effective products and services to our customers and business partners. This is what really attracted me to the role at Scottish Friendly.”