Lifestyle Article - New MD for Ecclesiasticals GI business

 Richard is currently European Director & Global Head of Insurance & Assistance at Collinson.

 He started his career as a graduate trainee at Eagle Star. Following its acquisition by Zurich he held a variety of roles spanning 18 years including Head of Navigators & General (Zurich’s yacht insurance business), leadership of Personal Lines Broker and SME within Zurich’s Broker Division and Managing Director of Zurich’s UK Commercial Broker business. He is also an advisory board member at Cytora, the artificial intelligence insurtech company.

 Richard will join Ecclesiastical on 1 February, subject to regulatory approval, and there will be a handover period with John Blundell to ensure a smooth transition.

 Richard said: “I’m excited to be joining Ecclesiastical. It’s a strong and successful business with a great track record, and the potential and ambition to do more in a fast changing market. It also has a unique purpose in the financial services sector to contribute to the greater good of society - something that speaks to me on a very personal level. I am really looking forward to working with my new colleagues and our broker partners.”

 Jacinta Whyte, Deputy Group Chief Executive of Ecclesiastical, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard to the business. He has significant insurance industry experience and is ideally placed to take this key role as we look to take our UKGI business forward.

 “Richard has an impressive record of leading transformational change and delivering business growth and we are very much looking forward to him joining the team.”