The CHO appoints new CEO and chairman

Financial & Legal and MSL non-executive director Anthony Hughes has been appointed to the roles of chairman and chief executive at the Credit Hire Organisation (CHO), the trade body for the UK credit hire industry.

Hughes (pictured) replaces Peter Gomes, who has retired, and started work at the CHO on 1 August. Lucy Woods, the current chairman, will step back after completing her two years as chair, though she will still remain on the trade body’s strategic board.

Commenting on the appointment, Woods said: “Anthony is a seasoned executive with extensive experience of the insurance industry.”

“He has the experience and all-round knowledge to lead the CHO through the current challenging operating environment, ensuring that the interests of our members are fully represented at all levels, including in the media, government and among other industry stakeholders.”

Hughes is a non-executive director at Financial & Legal and MSL, part of the Drive Further Collective. He has also been a long-term non-executive legal director at Preston North End FC.

Prior to joining Financial & Legal and MSL, Hughes was chief operating officer at legal services firm Simpson Millar. He has held C-suite roles at Horwich Farrelly, DWF and Ricksons.

He was also managing director at his own consulting firm, Jackson Hughes, between 2014 and 2019.

Hughes said: “I am looking forward to bringing to the organisation my commercial experience and expertise as well as my understanding of having worked or represented the insurance sector since the early 1990s.”

“My career has given me the ability to understand both sides of the argument having also been a director of a company in the accident management sector.”

He added: “Insurers and credit hire companies are both challenged by the current crisis in the motor supply chain, which threatens to increase frictional costs. I am keen to ensure that we look for areas of common ground to resolve any differences. Working together to reduce friction is key to ensuring customers can access mobility from our members when they need it.”

Woods added: “I want to thank Peter [Gomes] for his stewardship of the CHO through a period of significant transition, as the industry emerged from the pandemic, and on behalf of all our members wish him the very best for his retirement.”

Mark Dugdale