Ecclesiastical hires audit and compliance boss

Ecclesiastical has appointed John Schofield as its director of group internal audit and compliance.

This is a new role within the company and will have responsibility for the insurer’s internal audit and compliance functions across the group.

Schofield will take oversight for these teams and functions in all group companies, including Australia, Canada & Ireland as well as Ecclesiastical’s broker subsidiaries, Lycetts and SEIB.

He will also oversee the technical claims and underwriting audits and be the company’s central point of contact with the FSA.

Schofield was most recently head of internal audit for Old Mutual Wealth Management (previously Skandia).

Michael Tripp, group chief executive for Ecclesiastical, said: “This new role is the result of an internal review of the internal audit and compliance functions carried out earlier this year. With an incredible amount of change going on in and affecting the insurance sector, we felt the group would benefit from a closely aligned and an even stronger management of these crucial business functions.

"John’s knowledge and extensive background in the financial services sector will be a great asset for all Ecclesiastical’s Group companies, so we’re very pleased to have him onboard.”