GREGORY MARK WOOD

CBE, DBA, FCA, BA (Hons), Chairman

After qualifying with Price Waterhouse in London, Mark joined Commercial Union’s Investment Department becoming Treasurer in 1981. In 1983 he moved to Barclays as Global Head of Cash Management with a desk in London and New York. Chief Executive roles at subsidiaries of B&C, MAI and the AA followed. In 1996 Mark was appointed Chief Executive of AXA UK, with the mandate to create a market leading composite. The integration of Equity and Law, Provincial Insurance, Guardian Royal Exchange, PPP and Sun Life, established AXA as the UK’s third largest insurer. In 2001 he was appointed Chief Executive of Prudential UK and Europe. Implementation of the ‘1000 day plan’ re-established Prudential as the UK’s largest life insurer. Profits increased by 40% between 2002 and 2005.

Paternoster, founded by Mark in 2006 with £500m of Private Equity backing quickly became the market leader in Pension Bulk Annuities. The business was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2010. Subsequently Mark originated the buyout of RAC Motoring Services from Aviva, securing financing from Carlyle and becoming Senior Non Executive Director; additionally Mark variously chaired Jardine Lloyd Thompson Employee Benefits, Chaucer, start-up Beta Advertising, and The Innovation Group (Carlyle). Mark also served on the board of Which? Financial Services.

Currently, Mark chairs PensionBee (plc), Digitalis (private), RAC Financial Services (CVC / GIC and Silverlake), Acquis Insurance (Dunedin), Utility Bidder (Sovereign), and ONDO plc. He is Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s (PwC) Building Public Trust Awards judging panel, a trustee of the Brooklands Museum and Chairman of the MS Society ‘STOPMS’ Appeal Board.

Mark was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) from 2010 to 2019, Deputy Chairman of the ABI from 1997 to 2000, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Amesbury School from 1998 to 2006, Trustee of the NSPCC between 1999 and 2006.

MARK W. DUFFEY

Co-Founder, President & CEO

Mark W. Duffey is Co-Founder, President and CEO of Everest Funeral Package, LLC. Prior to Everest, Mark co-founded Carriage Services in 1991, where he served as president. In less than ten years, Mark helped Carriage Services grow into one of the largest funeral home organisations in the world – listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CSV).Mark is widely quoted as an industry expert, featured in Barron’s, CBS Early Show, Designing Spaces on Lifetime Television, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and Houston Chronicle, among others.

SUSANNAH HEIMS

Business Development Director – UK

With over 12 years of experience in the Group Protection industry, Susannah is a leading advocate for proactive, practical approaches to employee wellbeing and organisational support. As Business Development Director UK at Everest Funeral Concierge, she partners with HR leaders to address the often-overlooked realities of the modern workforce – supporting employees through bereavement, caring responsibilities, and life events that deeply affect performance and engagement.

Susannah combines deep industry expertise with actionable insight – sharing proven techniques to help organisations enhance engagement, retain talent, and deliver meaningful support when it matters most. Her work is reshaping how employers approach care, continuity, and culture across the modern workplace.

MICHELLE HALES

Director of Client Services – UK

With over 23 years’ experience in the funeral, crematoria, and cemetery profession, Michelle has built a career focused on raising standards and ensuring families receive compassion and clarity during life’s most difficult moments. Having held senior leadership roles, she has led large teams, new developments, and change initiatives across multiple sites, with expertise spanning business development, HR, training and project management.

As Director of Client Services, Michelle partners with HR professionals and employee benefit specialists to integrate funeral concierge and planning support into wellbeing programmes. She helps organisations recognise how this often-overlooked benefit can provide meaningful, practical support to employees and their families.

Known for her approachable, down-to-earth style, Michelle brings warmth, insight, and extensive experience to every conversation about bereavement, planning, and compassion in the workplace.