William Russell has hired Teresa Wighton as commercial director, to start on 12 November 2024.
Wighton (pictured) previously worked at Bupa Global for almost seven years, leaving the company some four months ago as global sales excellence director.
Wighton will take over from Andrew Nicol, interim head of sales. She will report directly into the company’s managing director and founder, Inez Cooper, joining the company’s senior management team.
He remit covers global new business sales and global retention as well as management of the firm’s teams in the UK, Brussels, Dubai, and Jakarta.
In addition to working on corporate strategy development, she will also continue William Russell’s growth programme and be responsible for making a success of its upcoming product launches, and building closer relationships with brokers around the world.
Other positions that Wighton held at Bupa Global included interim general manager for the UK and Africa, and UK group sales director.
Prior to that she was the head of international healthcare at Punter Southall from 2015 5o 2017.
And from 2010 to 2015 she was the head of international at Aviva UK.
Earlier roles in her career included head of corporate sales at Vitality and director of client management Europe for Cigna.
Health & Protection reported on her departure from Bupa in June this year.
William Russell said via LinkedIn: “We’re thrilled to announce that Teresa Wighton will be joining William Russell as our new commercial director – starting 12 November 2024.
“With nearly 30 years of experience in the IPMI industry, Teresa brings a wealth of expertise in strategy and sales leadership.
“She’s held senior roles at Cigna, Aviva, and Bupa Global, and we’re confident she’ll help drive our continued growth and success.
“Welcome aboard, Teresa.”
Wighton said: “I am really excited to be joining the team at William Russell.
“The business has been hugely successful during its 30-year history and the energy for the next chapter is clearly evident.
“There is a clear ambition and I am looking forward to being part of this great business and contributing to its continued success.”
During her career break, Wighton walked the South Downs Way, a 100-mile journey from Winchester through the Hampshire countryside.