Zurich Financial Services Group has appointed David Sims as chief executive of the UK life insurance business following Lawrence Churchill stepping down last month.
Churchill had been in charge of ZFS UK, Ireland and international business for just 18 months after joining from Unum Provident in 2002.
Since the management restructuring in May, chief executive of the global life insurance business Paul van de Geijn has been looking after the UK business.
Sims has held several pos-itions in ZFS, including UK life developing distribution director and group marketing director. Since 2002, he has been Zurich International Solutions managing director. He has a BA degree from Kings College, London in medieval and modern history.
Van de Geijn says, based on Sims' track record, he expects him to deliver fundamental changes in the UK life business. He says: “This requires the strengthening of the manufacturing and distribution functions as well as improving the segment's profitability.”
