Chaucer Holdings Plc’s Board of Directors announces several appointment and management changes :
- CHP has appointed Robert Stuchbery as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 January 2010.
- Bruce Bartell will assume Chief Underwriting Officer responsibilities and step-down as Active Underwriter of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084.
- CHP has confirmed Ken Curtis as Chief Financial Officer, who joins the CHP Board with immediate effect.
- Bob Deutsch will assume the role of Chairman of Chaucer Syndicates Limited, the Group’s managing agency, with effect from 1 January 2010 following the retirement of Ewen Gilmour on 31 December 2009. Richard Scholes will act as Deputy Chairman of CSL from the same date.
- John Fowle will become Active Underwriter of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084 and will join the CSL Board. John’s appointments are subject to regulatory approval.
- Ken Curtis will retain the role of CSL Finance Director, while recruitment takes place. Chaucer Syndicates Limited will also seek the appointment of two independent Non-Executive Directors.
Martin Gilbert, Chairman, commented: “I am extremely pleased to appoint Bob Stuchbery as Chief Executive Officer of Chaucer Holdings PLC. I am convinced that Bob is the right man for this key role, having been responsible for much of Chaucer’s success over the past 20 years.
I also welcome the appointments of Bruce Bartell, Ken Curtis and John Fowle. The appointment of this Senior Management Team follows very positive feedback from shareholders and provides Chaucer with a highly experienced and strong leadership team. Bob will now focus the energies of his team on the delivery of our long-term strategy.
These appointments follow an extremely thorough and highly competitive search process. I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank Ewen Gilmour for his many years of leadership and dedicated service to Chaucer.”
Bob Stuchbery stated, “I am delighted to be appointed CEO of Chaucer, having worked closely with the business, most recently as CUO and Active Underwriter, to help it to establish its strong underwriting reputation over the last 20 years, The new Senior Management Team, which has already contributed greatly to Chaucer’s development, is committed to our continued success. The Team has unparalleled knowledge and experience of both Chaucer and the Lloyd’s market and its appointment is a credit to the strength in depth of the executive team at Chaucer. Chaucer is an excellent business and, together with the Senior Management Team and all employees, I look forward to leading the business to further success for all stakeholders in the future.”
Robert Stuchbery has been a director of Chaucer Holdings PLC since July 1998 and joined the Group in 1988. Bob is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, and is currently Chairman of the Underwriting Committee of the Lloyds’ Market Association Board. Since October 2005, Bob was Chief Underwriting Officer, having previously been Active Underwriter of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1096. Before joining Chaucer, Bob was with the UK subsidiary of a large US insurance company from 1977 to 1987, working in London and the USA.
Bruce Bartell was appointed a director of Chaucer Holdings PLC on 23 June 2009, having been Active Underwriter of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084 since its merger with Syndicate 1096 in 2003. Bruce joined Chaucer in 1988. Prior to this appointment, Bruce worked for fifteen years in the London Company Market.
Ken Curtis has been interim CFO of Chaucer Holdings PLC since 23 June 2009 and is the Finance Director of Chaucer Syndicates Limited, the Group’s Managing Agency. Ken is responsible for the financial management and reporting of the Group, Managing Agency and Syndicates. Prior to joining Chaucer, Ken was a Senior Manager in the London Market Insurance Group of Deloitte.
John Fowle is the Deputy Active Underwriter of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1084 and has specific responsibility for the non-marine classes as Practice Head. Together with Bruce Bartell, John has been responsible for the strategic development and business performance of Syndicate 1084. John joined Chaucer in 2002 and was previously Head of the Specialist Lines Division.
