Dame Inga Beale, former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, has joined the management board of insurance law firm Clyde & Co.
The firm has appointed Beale and former Grant Thornton US CEO Stephen Chipman as independent board members (the equivalent of non-executive directors). This is the first time such a position has been created at the firm. Beale and Chipman will join the board January 01.
“Inga and Steve’s appointments to our board are a significant move for us and send a very strong message to our clients that we are committed to placing their needs and interests at the heart of our decision-making,” said Peter Hirst, senior partner at Clyde & Co. “Inga will play an important role supporting our drive to materially improve diversity and inclusion across our firm to ensure we can offer clients the diversity of thought, talent and skills that they increasingly demand.”
Beale served as CEO of Lloyd’s of London from 2014 to 2018. During her tenure, she initiated a large-scale digital and cultural transformation in the organisation and led its expansion into China, Dubai and India. Beale is also well-known in the insurance industry as a champion of diversity. She increased female participation in Lloyd’s senior management positions to one-third, and was a driving force behind the Dive In Festival, a worldwide event promoting diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector.
“Having worked in the insurance market over the course of four decades, joining the largest insurance law firm in the world represents a natural next step for me,” Beale said. “I feel I can provide a client-side insight that will benefit Clyde & Co’s management operations as well as the day-to-day work the firm does with clients.”
In January of this year, Clyde & Co launched a training program to help its female lawyers and senior staff build their profiles. Women make up 46% of the lawyers and one-quarter of the partners at the firm.
