Lawson to replace Shivan Subramaniam on 1 January 2015

FM Global, the mutual commercial insurer, has promoted executive vice-president Thomas Lawson to chief executive officer.

Lawson will succeed Shivan Subramaniam on 1 January after he joins the board of directors as company president on 1 August.

Lawson joined FM Global in 1979 and was appointed in 2009 to his current position. As president, he will be responsible for the strategic and operational direction of the company, which insures nearly $9 trillion (£5.3 trillion) in business property in more than 130 countries.

Subramaniam will retire on 31 Dec after 40 years with the company and will remain chairman of FM Global’s board of directors.

Since Subramaniam was named chief executive in 1999, he has helped the company grow its annual revenue from $1bn to $5.6 bn.