Media Release 17 June 2025
IUA ANNOUNCES THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS
Three new directors have been appointed by the International Underwriting Association (IUA), as part of a restructuring initiated by the body’s new Chief Executive. Chris Jones took over as the IUA’s head on May 1 and has now announced a separation of the Director of Underwriting and Claims role he previously fulfilled.
Tom Hughes is now the IUA’s Director of Underwriting, whilst Joe Shaw is Director of Claims. The move will enable the association to prioritise further the technical support, knowledge and expertise it provides for innovative underwriting and claims handling.
Chris Jones, said: “The IUA is dedicated to supporting best practices throughout the insurance lifecycle. With two new directors for underwriting and claims we will be able to provide members with a more focussed service for their day-to-day operations.
“The London Market is renowned for its underwriting expertise, and claims services are the essential benefit upon which clients judge our industry.”
A priority for the IUA’s new Director of Underwriting will be to establish a network of Chief Underwriting Officers across the London company market that can act as an advisory panel for future industry collaboration. The IUA’s new Director of Claims will be seeking to publish a range of good practice guides for individual classes of business.
Both Tom Hughes and Joe Shaw previously worked as senior executives in the IUA’s underwriting and claims department, which they will now jointly lead, supporting a wide range of market committees operated by the association.
Meanwhile, the IUA has also announced further restructuring within its team supporting the digital transformation of the London company market. Kim Darrington has been promoted to a Director role with the title of Director of Market Operations and Transformation and will lead the association’s work in this area. She will help ensure member companies are engaged in key market-wide digitalisation initiatives and that their views are heard in the development and management of such projects.
Kim has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, working for both broker and carrier organisations. She began her career focusing on claims and joined the IUA in 2016.
She said: “The IUA has always been influential in the strategic design and project governance of market processes and technology. I look forward to helping drive a collaborative approach that will enable companies to maximise operational efficiencies and cost savings.”
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Contact:
Scott Farley
Director of Communications
International Underwriting Association
Tel: 0207 617 4449
Mobile: 07921 699 218
E-mail: [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
About the IUA
The International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) is the representative body for companies in London providing international and wholesale insurance and reinsurance coverage. Its mission statement is to secure an optimal trading environment for London insurance companies.