Vitality has appointed Kirsty Leece as group chief risk officer (CRO), effective from 1 October 2026, across its wider global business.
Her appointment expands her current responsibilities as UK group, health and life insurance CRO to encompass oversight of risk management across Vitality’s wider international operations, covering Vitality in the UK, US and Vitality global markets.
In her new role, Leece (pictured) will lead development and execution of the group’s risk strategy, ensuring robust governance and risk management frameworks support the organisation’s continued growth and innovation across all markets.
She joined Vitality in early 2021 as deputy CRO and was appointed UK group CRO that same year. During her time with the business, she has played a key role in strengthening the organisation’s risk management capabilities and supporting the delivery of strategic priorities across the UK business.
In addition to her role at Vitality, she is a member of the risk and audit committee at the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Neville Koopowitz, group chief executive officer at Vitality, said: “Kirsty has made an exceptional contribution to Vitality since joining the business and has played a pivotal role in ensuring our risk framework supports both strong governance and strategic growth. Kirsty combines deep technical expertise with a strong understanding of our business, our purpose and the markets in which we operate.
“As we continue to expand and evolve internationally, effective risk management remains fundamental to delivering sustainable growth and maintaining the trust of our customers, partners and regulators. I am delighted to appoint Kirsty to this role and look forward to her helping shape the next phase of Vitality’s development across our global markets.”
Leece added: “Over the past five-and-a-half years as UK group CRO, I’ve had the privilege of leading a team that’s done far more than manage risk, they’ve been a driving force behind our strategy, providing independent risk challenge, support and regulatory insight that underpin responsible growth.
“I’m delighted to welcome new colleagues to the global team, and to bring our corporate governance specialists into the division. Together, we’re building a team with the scale and expertise to match Vitality’s ambition – one that doesn’t just support change but helps shape the meaningful impact we want to have on people’s lives.”