Criterion Adjusters, a leading high net worth (HNW) loss adjuster in the UK, has announced the appointment of Helena Evans (pictured above) as its new managing director. Evans will be taking over the position from James Long, who is retiring after almost 11 years at the company.
Evans joined Criterion in February 2020 as head of specialist services and has since worked closely with Long to expand the business across the high-net-worth (HNW) claims space. With her contributions, the company had its most successful year ever in 2022, serving insurers, brokers, and their HNW clients throughout the UK.
With over 20 years of experience in loss adjusting, Evans has a solid background in managing HNW, real estate, and major loss claims. She was also president of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) in 2022 and is an advocate for the role of women in the loss adjusting profession.
Evans will officially take over as Criterion’s managing director on May 1, 2023, with Long staying on as a consultant for the company.
“After 37 years in adjusting it’s time to move on,” said Long. “I am handing over the reins to Helena who I know will drive Criterion onto the next phase of its exciting growth journey. Helena’s appointment also reflects our commitment to succession planning which is a major part of our strategy and will hopefully see more of our team progress within Criterion.”
“I’m delighted to follow James and lead Criterion forward,” added Evans. “We are totally focused on delivering the best possible HNW claims capability to our clients. James has shaped the identity of Criterion, building the business into what it is today, and I intend to continue to develop our great business.”
In February, Evans spoke with Insurance Business to discuss how the loss adjusting sector has evolved over the years. She emphasised the positive changes she has seen in the industry since she began working in 1991, particularly in relation to gender diversity.
“It’s improved since I started and here are more female adjusters in the market,” she said. “I think it’s all about attracting women into the business because traditionally this has perhaps been a profession that women didn’t think they could do. Something I’m really passionate about trying to promote is the skillset that you need to be an adjuster, to try and attract new talent, and female talent in particular.”
