Ex-AXA head returns to the sector

Former AXA chief executive Peter Hubbard has been appointed a non-executive director at the rebranded Primary Group company, UK General Insurance.

He will join the boards of all the group’s companies – created following the merger of Longhawk Insurance Group and PBS Holdings in June – from September, subject to FSA approval.

Hubbard became a non-executive director of insurance litigation law firm Keoghs LLP in March, almost a year after leaving AXA. He is also a vice-president of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

He will work alongside the company’s chief executive Tim Rolfe, chief operating officer Michael Warren and technical director Karen Smith.

Longhawk and PBS Holdings, both part of the Primary Group, were merged to create savings through “economies of scale”. The new company is set to have a GWP of more than £220m.

UK General Insurance chairman Howard Posner said: “Peter has made it no secret that he was interested in returning to the insurance sector in a non-executive capacity, but would only do so with a business he felt had true potential.

“His decision to join us is clearly an endorsement of our business strategy and that he shares my belief in the aims of the new group.

“I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to our future success.”

The company said that the planned merger was on schedule.