By: 24 December 2018
Hiscox names new UK CEO

Hiscox has appointed Bob Thaker as its new UK chief executive officer, effective March 2019.

Thaker has worked at Hiscox since 2010 and held a number of senior roles during that time, having joined as head of strategy before going on to serve as group chief risk officer.

He is already very familiar with the UK business, having spent two years as head of claims for Hiscox UK and Europe, where he served on the UK leadership team.

In 2014, Thaker relocated to Asia to become chief operating officer of DirectAsia, a newly acquired direct-to-consumer personal lines insurance business, and became chief executive officer of the DirectAsia Group in January 2015.

Thaker will take over from Steve Langan, who moved to the US this year to become Hiscox US chief executive officer and remains the Hiscox Group’s chief marketing officer. Thaker will report to Ben Walter, chief executive officer of Hiscox Global Retail, who is responsible for Hiscox US, Hiscox UK, Hiscox Europe and Hiscox Special Risks.

In his new role, Thaker will lead the 800-strong UK team and will be based out of Birmingham.

Commenting on the appointment, Walter said: “Bob is a natural champion of the customer who will lead the UK team in its next phase of growth. We will benefit from Bob’s experience navigating intensely competitive markets and developing creative partnership opportunities.”

Bob added: “I’m delighted to be returning to Hiscox UK and honoured to lead a great team which has consistently served customers superbly and created a strong market position over many years.”

“I know from my time with the business a few years ago that we are fortunate to enjoy fabulous support from our broker partners for which we remain incredibly grateful. I look forward to working with the team and these terrific partners to build on these great foundations in the years ahead.”