ABI appoints three new senior roles

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has confirmed that it has appointed three new senior roles.

The roles include the organisation’s new Director General, as well as the newly created offices of Independent Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director, which were introduced following reforms announced earlier this year.

Nicky Morgan – Independent Chair

Nicky Morgan, the ABI’s new Independent Chair, with key responsibilities being to  chair the ABI Board and the new Reputation and Customers Committee. She takes over the newly redefined role from former ABI Chair Jon Dye, who stepped down after serving in the position since July 2019.

Morgan is a former MP, Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Committee who has also served as Education Secretary, Minister for Women and Equalities and Culture Secretary. In 2020, she was appointed as a peer in the House of Lords.

She is also a qualified solicitor and previously spent 16 years working for law firms in the City of London, specialising in mergers, acquisitions and advisory works.

According to the ABI, ‘she brings a wealth of experience of a number of sectors including financial services, education, media and technology.’

“There are many challenges and opportunities facing the sector ranging from customer trust to supporting the transition to Net Zero,” says Morgan. “I would like to offer my thanks to Jon Dye for his leadership of the sector during a challenging time and for a smooth handover of responsibilities.”

Hannah Gurga – Director General

Hannah Gurga will take up the post of Director General from early 2022, transferring from her previous role as Chief of Staff and Managing Director for Digital, Technology and Cyber at UK Finance.

Gurga has previously worked for the London Stock Exchange Group, ICAP and the UK government, and will replace Huw Evans in the role following his resignation in December to join KPMG as a partner.

“The ABI is globally recognised as a leading advocate for the insurance and long-term savings industry, and I am committed to building on its reputation to ensure we help members deliver the best outcomes for their customers.

“The external environment in which we’re operating is changing rapidly and it is vital that the ABI delivers across issues as varied as climate change, diversity and inclusion, resilience and the digital and data revolution,” said Gurga. “I look forward to working with members, colleagues, government and regulators to enhance our industry’s reputation and impact.”

“The ABI Board is delighted to appoint someone of her calibre as our next Director General after an open and competitive process,” says Barry O’Dwyer, ABI President and Group CEO for Royal London. “I look forward to working closely with Hannah as we strive to deepen our work on climate change, do more to improve customer outcomes and seek to harness the digital revolution for the benefit of those we serve.”

Dianne Hayter – Independent Non-Executive Director

Dianne Hayter will join ABI as its first Independent Non-Executive Director (iNED), as well as becoming the Senior Independent Director (SID) of the ABI board.

Hayter’s key responsibilities in the new role will include chairing both the ABI board and the ABI’s new Reputation and Customers Committee. In addition, Hayter will be a member of the Audit Committee and the Appointments and Remunerations Committee, as well as attending other board sub-groups.

Hayter also currently serves as a Labour-affiliated life peer in the House of Lords, having been appointed in 2010. She previously served as Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords from 2017 to 2021.

The ABI’s members play a vital role in supporting our economy and providing a financial safety net for families across the UK,” said Hayter. “I’m delighted to take up the role of independent Non-Executive Director and look forward to seeing what more can be done to boost consumer trust.”