Howden Broking Group's UK arm Howden Insurance Brokers has appointed Lorraine Adlam as chairman.

Adlam will step up from her current board position as leader of the group’s financial institutions practice to chair the board, supporting group chief executive Tim Coles.

She replaces former chairman Richard Elias, who has stepped down from the board after 13 years. He is now president of Howden Insurance Brokers and will continue as a 'strategic advisor to the business in selected territories'.

Coles said: “I am delighted that Lorraine has agreed to accept the position of chairman.

"The appointment is fantastic news for the group as a whole and our UK business in particular. As we are a fast growing and dynamic business, it is all the more important that our governance is robust and of the very highest standards.

"The board is confident that Lorraine’s approach, perspective and extensive experience will help guide the company to even greater success.”

Adlam joined as a director on the board of Howden Insurance Brokers and as financial institutions practice leader for the Howden Broking Group in 2008.

IPO experience

She spent 15 years with SVB Holdings, now Novae, where her roles included financial institutions underwriter for Syndicate 1007, chief executive of SVB Syndicates, the Lloyd's managing agency, and a member of the main board following the group's listing on the London Stock Exchange.

She has also worked at Aon where she headed the UK retail practice within its financial services group.

Adlam said: “I am looking forward to taking on this new responsibility and to working with Tim and the board in my capacity as chairman of Howden Insurance Brokers.

"This will be alongside my current focus on our financial institutions clients across the wider broking group, particularly in the UK with Howden Risk Partners as we look to further develop our insurance practice within the financial community.”

Howden is part of Hyperion Insurance Group which is working towards a potential initial public offering (IPO) in 2012.

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