Zurich UK has appointed James Tait to be its new head of corporate risk as the firm targets a top three spot in the UK group risk market.
Tait will join the company in January, and will work across both its London and Swindon offices.
Tait has most recently been the CEO for UnderwriteMe, a global life protection platform for financial advisers, which he helped expand internationally. Prior to this he was head of protection for Pacific Life Re, where he was responsible for their protection reinsurance business across the UK and Ireland.
Tait will replace Cindy Warden at Zurich, who will retire at the end of this year.
Zurich head of UK life Alex Koslowski says: “Building on the rapid growth of Zurich corporate risk over the past six years, we want to continue growing the business into a top three group protection provider. [Tait] brings a wealth of experience, market knowledge and leadership skills and will play an integral part in achieving this.”
Koslowski also thanked Warden for her leadership and stewardship of Zurich corporate risk over her 35-year career. He said she has taken the business from being a a new entrant in the group protection market into “one of the biggest and fastest growing life protection businesses in the UK”.