The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is appointing Alan Vallance as its new CEO from 30 August.
Vallance is currently CEO of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and will succeed interim CEO Jonathan Clark at the CII who has filled the role since previous CEO Sian Fisher stood down on 31 March.
The professional body for insurance and personal finance is in the process of updating its five-year strategy in the wake of a member consultation which concluded this year.
Last year the CII failed in a controversial attempt to de-register and fully takeover the Personal Finance Society (PFS), the largest professional body for individual financial advisers in the UK.
Vallance will “take forward the CII board’s refreshed strategy and next five-year plan, which will be informed by the Shaping the future together consultation feedback,” the CII said.
He trained as a chartered accountant in London with Ernst & Whinney, which later became Ernst & Young (EY), and has a background in finance, consulting, strategic planning and general management across a wide variety of roles in Europe and Australasia.
Vallance spent most of his time with EY on insurance audit work with Lloyd’s of London syndicates, brokers and insurance companies, the CII said.
It noted that during his seven years at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Vallance put in place a comprehensive growth and transformation programme.
This included a governance and constitution overhaul, staff restructure, property review, and extensive investment in technology and international support, which were all focussed on modernising the professional body and improving services and value for members.
He also led RIBA’s most significant financial transaction: the agreement of a joint venture and subsequent sale of its commercial subsidiary RIBA Enterprises/NBS, enabling the organisation to establish a significant investment fund for sustainable growth in perpetuity.
Vallance said he was delighted to join the CII and look forward to working with everyone connected to the body.
“The CII is a force for good in raising public trust in the profession,” he said.
“It will be an honour to represent both the institute and shine a light on the power of insurance and financial planning to improve the nation’s financial resilience in the UK and internationally.”
CII chairwoman Dr Helen Phillips added: “Alan’s experience as CEO of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a Royal Charter membership body, make him the ideal choice to lead the Chartered Insurance Institute.
“He is well recognised as an expert in leading and transforming professional bodies into becoming 21st century digital organisations with greater focus on meeting members’ needs.”