Zurich has named Anne Torry as head of its UK life business and chief executive of its legal entities Zurich Assurance and Sterling Investment Managers.
Ms Torry has been with Zurich since 1995 and will begin the new role on 1 July.
She will be based in Swindon and report to the UK country head, Vibhu Sharma.
She has been managing director of the public sector insurance arm of Zurich’s UK general insurance business for the last five years.
Ms Torry takes over from Jim Sykes, who has been interim chief executive since Gary Shaughnessy left in January to become chief executive of Zurich Global Life.
Mr Sykes will now return to his role as UK Life chief operating officer and head of in-force management.
I’m joining UK life at a very exciting time as it faces all the opportunities and challenges in the market driven by both customer demand and regulatory and government changes. Ann TorryMs Torry’s permanent replacement as Zurich’s Municipal managing director will be Andrew Jepp, who has been with Zurich for 22 years and is currently her deputy and director of public sector.
As director of public sector, Mr Jepp has been responsible for delivery of the Zurich Municipal customer proposition as well as financial and business plans across all areas of the public sector, including local government, emergency services, social housing, education, health and charities.
Mr Shaughnessy said: “Her leadership experience in the UK market, combined with her background running both businesses and functions within them, make her the ideal choice.”
Ms Torry said: “I’m joining UK life at a very exciting time as it faces all the opportunities and challenges in the market driven by both customer demand and regulatory and government changes.”
Richard Ross, director of Norfolk-based Chadwicks, said: “I think it is an interesting appointment at a time when the government is looking to the private sector generally, and pension funds in particular, for infrastructure investment as a politically acceptable alternative to the fiscal stimulus the economy desperately needs.
“During her time at Zurich Municipal, Anne was at the forefront of the drive to persuade local authorities to confront the challenges of cuts with increased and intelligently applied outsourcing.
“This experience will be invaluable as the emphasis moves from delivering services to creating a more efficient environment.”
ruth.gillbe@ft.com
