An almost unprecedented change in the top senior management positions at the leading protection and indemnity insurers began in the summer of last year.
By the spring of this year, there will have been movement in the leading executive positions at six of the 13 members of the International Group of P&I Clubs.
P&I club chief executives are known for their length of service. It was a decision by the longest serving of all, the American Club’s Joe Hughes — who led the club’s manager the Shipowners’ Claims Bureau for 27 years — to step down that rang in the changes.
In his place, Dorothea Ioannou was appointed as the P&I sector’s first female chief executive in the P&I industry’s 168-year history.
But those hoping her appointment might be the start of more women finding their way to the position of chief executive will be sadly disappointed by the other appointments.
Despite the changes, Ioannou remains the only female chief executive.
Diversity development
There was one other positive diversity development at Skuld, but that came outside its mutual P&I business, as Anna F Erlandsen was appointed vice president of underwriting at commercial outlet Skuld Hull.
Retiring Lars Rhodin, who led the Swedish Club for 13 years, has been replaced by Swedish lawyer Thomas Nordberg since the start of this year.
Nordberg is the only managing director appointment that is not an internal promotion but an external appointment.
Stephen Martin steps down at Steamship Mutual this February to be replaced by Jonathan Andrews.
In June, Simon Swallow will retire after 25 years at the Shipowners’ Club, the past seven of which were as chief executive. He will be replaced by chief financial officer Simon Peacock.
There has also been a partial change at Britannia, where chief executive Andrew Cutler has taken on the role of chairman of the International Group of P&I Clubs.
While he holds that position, he will share chief executive duties at Britannia with former chief underwriting officer Mike Hall. Simon Williams has taken on the role of chief underwriting officer.
Also, North P&I Club chief executives Paul Jennings and Jeremy Grose will share the position of chief executive at the merged mutual NorthStandard when it opens for business on 20 February.
At the UK P&I Club, William Beveridge has taken on the role of chief underwriting officer after replacing Christopher Brown.
