Magnusson serves as a non-executive director of global specialty (re)insurer Canopius. He served as chair of Nordea Bank Abp from 2019 to 2022 and as deputy chair from 2022 to 2023, representing Sampo Group as the bank’s largest shareholder during a period of significant strategic and operational change. He was also chair of UK digital insurer Hastings Group and Danish insurer Topdanmark.

During his executive career Magnusson served as chief executive officer and president of Sampo for nearly six years, stepping down in 2025 after developing the business into one of the Nordic region’s largest financial services groups. He also led Sampo’s £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) acquisition of Hastings, strengthening the group’s presence in the UK market. Previously, Magnusson served as president and CEO of If P&C Insurance from 2002 until 2019 and as chair from 2019 to 2025. After studying engineering and mathematics, he began his career with Arthur Andersen before moving into actuarial and insurance roles at Skandia and Mercantile & General Re.

“He is a highly regarded and versatile international business leader who brings more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning a breadth of CEO, non-executive director, and chair roles across large financial services businesses,” Asquith said. “Torbjörn has a particularly strong track record of delivering growth and creating shareholder value over many years in businesses serving personal and corporate customers. He knows the opportunities and challenges emerging from the fast-changing dynamics of the financial services industry. He also understands the complex stakeholder environment of running a modern listed company and has direct experience of working in the UK regulatory framework. As we look forward, Torbjörn is an excellent match to help Aberdeen achieve our growth ambitions.”

Mishcon de Reya
Law firm has appointed Elliott Phillips as a partner in its private wealth disputes practice, based in its London office. Phillips, who is joining next week, is an internationally-recognised disputes lawyer who specialises in complex, cross-border contentious trusts, estates and private wealth matters.

With more than 20 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals, beneficiaries, trustees and other parties to private wealth disputes, his wider practice encompasses commercial litigation, civil fraud, asset tracing and recovery, insolvency and shareholder disputes. Before joining Mishcon de Reya, Phillips was a partner at Signature Litigation, where he was also the founding partner of its Gibraltar office, and built and led a team handling complex international disputes. He has appeared at all levels of court, including appearing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Phillips, who regularly works alongside leading law firms and counsel across multiple jurisdictions, is the firm's 10th lateral partner hire of 2026.  Alongside his legal career, Phillips served as a member of the Gibraltar Parliament between 2015 and 2023, as well as as leader of the opposition from 2017 to 2019.

“We are delighted to welcome Elliott to the firm. He is an accomplished disputes lawyer with extensive experience of handling complex and sensitive private wealth matters across jurisdictions,” Peter Steen, head of Private Wealth Disputes at Mishcon de Reya, said. “Elliott’s combination of technical expertise, strategic judgement and understanding of the dynamics that underpin private wealth disputes will be a real asset to our clients. His appointment adds further depth to the team and supports our ambition to build on Mishcon Private’s distinctive offering and further develop our international contentious trusts and estates capability.”