Aberdeen's return to vowels: 'It had no choice but to change it back'

Initial rebrand an ‘expensive and confusing’ marketing mistake, advisers say

Isabel Baxter
clock • 3 min read

Following the news that Abrdn will be changing its name back to Aberdeen in a bid to “remove distractions”, industry commentators have said that “it had no choice” but to change it back.

Standard Life Aberdeen adopted the name Abrdn back in 2021, following the sale of the Standard Life brand to Phoenix Group. At the time, the asset manager said that the vowel-banishing change reflected a "modern, agile, digitally enabled brand".  As part of its full year results released today (4 March), the asset manager said the name change is a "pragmatic decision marking a new phase for the organisation and removing distractions, this is a name change not a re-brand, so there is no change to visual identity".  "It was clearly not working," The Yardstick Agency founder and di...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Companies

David James CEO on 'filling the gap' between one-man IFAs and consolidators

David James CEO on 'filling the gap' between one-man IFAs and consolidators

‘We’re not trying to be the biggest wealth manager’

Isabel Baxter
clock 04 September 2026 • 5 min read
Nucleus posts £61.5m profit in 2025

Nucleus posts £61.5m profit in 2025

Revenue rose 3.5% to £225m

Isabel Baxter
clock 04 September 2026 • 2 min read
Lync Wealth Management acquires two Belfast advice firms

Lync Wealth Management acquires two Belfast advice firms

Carleton Financial Planning and RJ Savage Asset Management

Isabel Baxter
clock 03 September 2026 • 2 min read