STANDARD Life has appointed former American Express executive Lan Tu as its strategy director.

Reporting directly to chief executive Keith Skeoch, and working closely with the strategic executive committee and the board, Ms Tu will be responsible for shaping and progressing the overall strategic direction for the company. She will join the business of April 6.

Mr Skeoch was elevated to the top job in August last year following the departure of David Nish and with Ms Tu set to occupy a new senior position, it marks a significant move for the company.

In its most recent accounts, Standard Life reported that assets under its administration stood at £307.4bn.

Mr Skeoch commented that Ms Tu’s experience across international markets made her a major asset to the company. “Lan’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our existing talent pool and utilising new experience and insights to help drive our strategic direction. Her collaborative and inclusive style alongside her highly commercial skills are an extremely positive addition and I’m looking forward to working with her.”

Most recently Ms Tu held a number of senior roles in American Express, including four years as chairperson, American Express Advanced Services Europe and a further four years as general manager for merchant services in the UK, Nordics and B2B Partnerships.

In addition she is currently executive chairman of mental health charity Maudsley Learning and is a non-executive director at Arrow Global Group. Having attended Kings College, London, Ms Tu later obtained an MBA from Harvard.