Aegon

Mark Pearson, head of investment marketing at Aegon UK, is to leave the business this week, Investment Week can reveal.

Novia's ongoing arrangement to build and administer Aegon's platform netted the group's subsidiary £1m in 2012, the latest results have revealed.

Aegon's net income fell 2% in the first half of this year, as higher underlying earnings were offset by losses on hedges due to rising equity markets and volatility - and an £18m loss on the sale of Positive Soltuions.

Network Intrinsic is set to buy national IFA firm Positive Solutions from parent company Aegon.

Aegon is cutting its sales force and support roles by 160 with immediate effect and will be closing all six regional sales centres over the next six months.

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Aegon UK made a loss before tax of £22m in the fourth quarter of 2011, dragged down by further redress payments following administrative problems at Scottish Equitable and a slump in life and pensions sales.

Gerardine Davies, former director of property at Aegon Asset Management, has joined BNP Paribas Real Estate as head of UK investment management.

The past three years have been a tumultuous time for the financials sector, which has seen a phase of deleveraging, rights issues and balance sheet repair which continues to this day.

Kames Capital's head of UK equities Stephen Adams has predicted UK plc could see negative earnings in 2012, undershooting consensus forecasts by 15%.