About Us
Pharmaceutical and General Provident Society (PG) is a mutual Friendly Society providing income protection exclusively for those working in pharmacy.
The Society was founded in 1928 with the mandate of providing financial help to pharmacists, and we remain true to that aim. We now have net assets standing at over £32 million, all of which belongs to our members. We provide benefits such as income protection cover starting from day one of incapacity, and the accumulation of a tax‑free lump sum for when you decide to leave the Society.
80 years of working with the pharmacy profession makes us the ideal provider of income protection insurance to professionals working in this sector.
Our ethos puts our members first, and we aim to provide exceptional value for money. Pharmacists have placed their trust in PG for the past eighty years.
Our staff is composed of a small, friendly and expert team. Our activities are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and we are governed by a Committee of Management comprised mainly from people with pharmacy experience which is itself answerable to our members.
The Committee is made up as follows:
John Mather - Chief Executive Officer
John joined the PG Committee in January 2007, after a long management career in insurance, including AIG. "The thing that appeals about PG is that it is a friendly society - we are here to look after our members' interests, and my role is to see that the team does that to the very best of our abilities." John aims to focus on making the Society more efficient in the way it communicates with members - with simplified explanations of what we do, a new web site, and fresh branding. John is also aiming to grow the membership: "It's a superb product, backed by a dedicated team - we want to make sure everyone involved in the pharmacy profession is aware of what we can do for them. This is a reason why we have introduced a wider range of Income Protection products this year in order to better serve the diversity of needs of the pharmacy community today."
Wally Dove - Chairman
Wally qualified in pharmacy from Chelsea College, London University, with an honours degree in 1966. He spent 12 years gaining wide experience in the pharmaceutical industry in various research, development, production and marketing positions. He then acquired his first pharmacy - and still has an interest in a community pharmacy - on the Isle of Wight. He is a past Chairman of the NPA Board of Management, former Chairman of PSNC, a former member of the RPSGB's Council, and is currently Treasurer of the NPA.
J David Thomas - Vice Chairman
David studied pharmacy at Birmingham and qualified in 1964. Former owner of three community pharmacies in the West Midlands, he established the largest privately owned care groups for the provision of short term domiciliary to long term care in Wolverhampton. He was NPA West Midland Board member for 18 years, NPA Chairman in 1989-1990 and Treasurer 1991-1998. As well as serving on the PSNC, David served on PATA, defending the Retail Pricing mechanism. He remains an assiduous and outspoken supporter of community pharmacy, especially private pharmacy ownership.
Nick Morrell - Senior Independent Director
After graduating from Bristol University in 1971, Nick qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1974. He has 30 years' experience in the mutual life assurance industry in a variety of roles including Chief Executive of a leading friendly society. Since 2000 he has been an independent consultant advising friendly societies and small life assurance companies on matters as diverse as statutory reserving provisions, bonus distributions, business strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. Nick was founder Chairman of the Association of Friendly Society Taxation Committee and takes a keen interest in developments affecting mutual life insurers.
Gerald Alexander - Non-Executive Director
Gerald qualified in 1972 from Aston University as a pharmacist, and after gaining pharmacy management experience, became a pharmacy owner in 1981. He devotes a great deal of time to representing the profession, being a vice president of the RPSGB, in addition to sitting on the PG and NPA Boards (NPA Chairman, 2001-2002). He is also a PSNC member, and his main interest is championing the cause of community pharmacy. Gerald is married, with two children, and lives in North London.
Simon Whale - Non-Executive Director
Simon has 20 years' experience in corporate communications, regulatory issues, and government and media relations. He has advised a wide range of clients in the financial services sector, including Norwich Union and HSBC. He worked with the Association of Friendly Societies for more than ten years, helping the organisation promote the benefits of mutuality to the government and politicians. This helped to pave the way for a new, less restrictive legislative regime for friendly societies. He has worked with organisations in the pharmacy profession for 15 years. In 2005 Simon led a management buyout at leading communications consultancy Luther Pendragon. He continues to be a Partner at the firm.