UK General boss hails “tremendous coup”

Chris Blackham

Former Layton Blackham founder Chris Blackham has been appointed as a non-executive director to the board of UK General Insurance.

Blackham’s appointment to the board of the Leeds-based specialist insurer was described as “a tremendous coup” by UK General Insurance chief executive Peter Hubbard. He said: “Chris knows everyone in the industry; he has a wealth of experience and understanding of the insurance market, and I am delighted that he is joining our board.”

Hubbard said Blackham will strengthen the company’s governance, as well as challenge and counsel the management team. 

Blackham, who took up his new role on 1 December, is currently non-executive director of Howden Insurance Brokers.

He made his name in the insurance industry as founder of Layton Blackham, the broking business he ran from 1984 to 2007, during which time he managed the merger and acquisition of more than 30 other businesses. He sold the business to Axa in 2007, and became chairman and joint chief executive of what later became Bluefin. He is also founding partner of Endorphin, the private equity-backed insurance consulting firm.