Jon Dye has been named chairman of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) following Amanda Blanc’s resignation last week.
Mr Dye, who joined Allianz Insurance as chief executive in 2013, has been on the ABI board since January 2015, and chairing the ABI audit committee between 2016 and 2018.
He is also a non-executive director at LV General Insurance.
Mr Dye, a fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, has previous held roles such as general manager for retail at Alliance Insurance, and various claims roles at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SA between 1998 and 2003.
Prior to this, he spent nine years at Commercial Union, having joined as a management trainee in 1989.
Mr Dye will initially serve a one-year term at the ABI after which the board chairman role will revert to a two-year tenure.
His appointment follows the sudden resignation of Ms Blanc last week (July 3) as chief executive of Zurich for Europe, Middle East and Africa and chairwoman of the ABI.
Ms Blanc was the first female appointed to chair the ABI board in July 2018, and was busy calling for innovation in the industry, saying the trade body needed to continue to push for better outcomes for the industry and customers in the face of Brexit and upcoming regulatory changes.
She also called out the financial services industry for not progressing women through the ranks when she gave evidence to the Treasury select committee on women in finance.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Dye said: "We face a period of unprecedented challenge and opportunity so it’s important for the industry to speak with a clear, authoritative and constructive voice.
"Amanda Blanc is a tough act to follow, but I am looking forward to working with the ABI board on the many and varied issues that face the industry."
Bronek Masojada, a member of the ABI board appointments committee, said Mr Dye had been the clear choice of the board to lead it for the year ahead.
"He is highly respected by his board colleagues for his commitment, judgement and open way of working," he said.
