International specialist insurer Hiscox, has appointed Jonathan Bloomer as Chair designate, subject to regulatory approval.
This decision comes as part of a succession plan, with Bloomer set to join the Board on June 1, 2023, and succeed Robert Childs, who will retire on July 1, 2023.
Bloomer brings with him a wealth of experience in leading financial services organisations. With a background as a Partner at Arthur Andersen, he later joined Prudential plc in 1995, initially serving as CFO before assuming the role of CEO from 2000 to 2005.
His most recent executive position was as an Operating Partner at Cerberus. Notably, Jonathan currently holds the position of Chair at Morgan Stanley International, DWF Group plc, and SDL Group Holdings Limited, showcasing his expertise as a seasoned board director.
Colin Keogh, Hiscox Senior Independent Director, expressed his satisfaction with the selection process, stating, “After an extensive search, I am delighted to have led the process that resulted in the Nominations and Governance Committee selecting Jonathan as the Board’s next Chair. We will benefit from his experience and leadership, and we are all eagerly looking forward to working with him.”
Keogh also took the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of outgoing Chair Robert Childs, saying, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rob once again for the immense contributions he has made during his long and distinguished career, not only to Hiscox but to the wider industry. He has navigated many insurance cycles, mentored many underwriters, and leaves a legacy of integrity and strong results. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Rob Childs himself expressed confidence in the selection, commenting, “The Board has made an outstanding choice in Jonathan Bloomer to be the next Chair of Hiscox. He joins the Group at an exciting time, with a range of opportunities ahead for continued profitable growth.”
Aki Hussain, Hiscox Group CEO, also expressed enthusiasm for the new appointment, emphasizing Jonathan’s deep experience in driving international growth and managing complexity across a variety of financial services companies and other businesses. Hussain stated, “I am very much looking forward to working with Jonathan. His expertise will be extremely valuable to us.”
Jonathan Bloomer, in his role as Chair designate, expressed his excitement about joining Hiscox, acknowledging the company’s strong reputation and culture. He stated, “I am delighted to be joining Hiscox; it is a great company, with a distinctive culture and an exciting future. I look forward to being part of the team.”
