David White, chief executive of The Children’s Mutual, is passionate about saving for children. Yesterday’s announcement that the mutual is to offer the first Child Trust Fund to comply with Islamic law means that more than 100,000 Muslim families will be given access to the Government’s savings initiative for the first time.
But Mr White’s determination to promote children’s savings does not stop there. Two years ago he oversaw the relaunch of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society as The Children’s Mutual — dedicated solely to children’s savings accounts.
The 45-year-old, who started his career in financial services at the age of 17 at Scottish Life, has described launching The Children’s Mutual as a dream come true. He firmly belives that every parent should be saving for their offspring, no matter how big or small the amount.
Mr White, who lives with his wife and three children, Laura, 16, Myles, 14, and Robert, 13, in Cranbrook, near Tunbridge Wells, says that he has been saving for his own children for “quite some time”.
A big supporter of the Government’s Child Trust Fund initiative, Mr White was heavily involved in consultations to help to shape the CTF and was delighted when it was announced by the Chancellor. He believes that the CTF will provide a financial springboard that will help to change the future of all young people, including many who might otherwise face a life of poverty.
After spells in Crown Life, Irish Life and Prudential, Mr White joined the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society as sales and marketing director in 1995.
Advertisement
The former amateur racing driver spends some of his free time driving his Caterham 7 sports car around the countryside of Kent. He is also learning Spanish.