“It’s been a huge privilege to help lead the insurance and long-term savings sector, but I am now in my seventh year as director general and it feels the right time to be preparing to move on.”
Those were the words of Association of British Insurers (ABI) director general Huw Evans when it was announced that he is leaving the trade body at the end of the year to join KMPG in January 2022. There, Evans will serve as a partner in the company’s insurance and long-term savings practice.
Evans – who came onboard the trade body in 2008 as operations director and went on to become policy director and deputy director general in 2013 before taking on his current post, which he has held since February 2015 – is “really pleased” to have the opportunity to stay in the industry.
The outgoing ABI stalwart noted: “Leading a trade association and driving modernisation is never easy and it has certainly not been a quiet term of office with Brexit, Solvency II implementation, Pension freedoms, a pandemic, and three general elections to help navigate among many other things.
“I’ve been blessed with a great ABI team and a group of industry leaders really committed to driving our sector forward, and that is what has made the job worthwhile. There is still plenty to do, and I look forward to focussing on Solvency II reform, improving customer outcomes, GI (general insurance) pricing, and developing our climate change roadmap in my remaining seven months.”
According to the ABI, a full recruitment process will commence shortly to find Evans’ replacement.
Meanwhile, ABI chair and Allianz UK chief Jon Dye stated: “Huw Evans has been an inspirational leader of the ABI, and has brought a restless determination to drive both our industry and the ABI forward. He has played a critical role in helping our sector navigate a hugely turbulent decade and tackling seismic changes within the industry itself.
“His achievements are many and include negotiating and implementing Flood Re, overseeing consumer initiatives such as the voluntary codes for vulnerable customers, the Mental Health Standards, pensions language simplification, and the COVID-19 customer pledges, as well as being a key supporter of the Women in Finance charter.”
The Allianz boss also thanked the director general and cited the association’s high member satisfaction and staff survey results under his leadership, while expressing how glad Dye is that Huw will remain an important part of the sector in his upcoming capacity.
