Standard Life rebrands institutional investment platform

Standard Life has rebranded its institutional investment platform from Phoenix Corporate Investment Services to Standard Life Corporate Investment Solutions (CIS).

The provider said the new name aligned closer with its brand and reflected its expanding role as a partner to institutional and wealth clients, developing solutions to support those navigating an evolving pensions landscape.

CIS looks to support pension trustees, advisers, and other institutional clients with bespoke investment solutions across trust-based and unbundled pension arrangements, providing the framework for clients to invest while meeting governance requirements with flexible fund selection and investment reporting.

Standard Life noted that the UK pensions market was undergoing “significant structural change”, driven by defined contribution (DC) scheme consolidation, greater interest in private markets, and defined benefit schemes moving towards endgame.

It said the CIS business was continuing to evolve its proposition in response to the changing landscape, focusing on investment innovation, simplified member journeys, and strengthened governance.

Recent platform updates include enabling DC schemes to access private markets through blended fund structures, supporting the development of new retirement income strategies within master trusts, and enhanced investment reporting.

“This rebrand reflects the fundamental shift in what our clients need from their investment platforms,” said Standard Life CIS head, Jess Williams.

“While we’ll still be known to many as CIS, the adoption of solutions while subtle, is hugely important in terms of how the business is developing.

“Clients are operating in a far more complex environment, shaped by consolidation, evolving investment opportunities and increasing governance demands.

“Our role is no longer just to provide efficient administration, but to work alongside clients as a strategic partner, helping them navigate change and make informed decisions that support better member outcomes.

“Under the Standard Life brand, we are bringing together investment expertise, robust platform infrastructure and data led insight to help schemes and their advisers manage complexity and governance more effectively.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to support clients through key moments of change, from helping master trusts scale and enabling asset transitions and consolidation, to supporting defined benefit schemes as they plan for buyout or long-term run on.

“Our focus is on providing practical, flexible solutions that help clients respond with confidence as the pensions landscape continues to evolve.”

This article originally appeared in our sister publication Pensions Age.

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