As CEO of financial services giant Legal & General, António Simões plays a huge role in the UK economy, not to mention in the financial wellbeing of tens of millions of people. From managing pension funds to massive infrastructure spending around the country, he oversees well over a trillion dollars’ worth of UK assets. Simões took the top job at the beginning of 2024, and he tells Will Bain how from the start he has been dedicated to maintaining a corporate culture with a healthy work-life balance.

Bullish on the UK economy, Simões says the country sometimes spends too much time ‘talking itself down’ and that with its fundamental strengths the UK is one of the most stable economies in the world. But, he says, there are still big worries for young Britons’ futures. He tells Will he’s concerned about the low levels of pension enrolment around the country and says more financial education is needed for people to understand the “eighth wonder of the world”: compound interest.

He also tells Will about L&G’s massive investments around the country, from digital infrastructure and energy storage to affordable homes. And he says that despite a backlash against ESG and diversity programmes in recent years, he believes those are essential to ensuring returns for investors, and the country, far into the future.

Presenter: Will Bain

Producer: Olie D'Albertanson

Editor: Henry Jones

00:00 Sean Farrington and Will Bain introduce the episode

02:00 António Simões interview begins

02:21 Maintaining work-life balance and corporate culture

05:30 Britons not saving enough into their pensions and the need for more financial literacy

08:40 Addressing low pensions auto-enrollment, challenges for employees and SMEs alike

20:30 UK Growth - how to get there?

24:30 AI investments and 'bubble' fears

26:30 Government and private investments in new infrastructure around the UK

40:00 The continued value of diversity schemes and ESG amid backlash

41:30 The politicisation of the economy

42:30 Low gender and LGBT representation in the C-suite