New chairman for Thatcham

Thatcham, the insurer funded research centre, announced that Bill Paton, chief claims officer, at Zurich has been appointed to the role of chairman of Thatcham.

Paton will chair a board drawn from representatives of Thatcham’s 34 members all of whom are major UK motor insurers and who fund the centre’s research programme with a combined levy payment of £7.8m (2008).

As chair, Paton will oversee a board who represent over 30 million motorists in the United Kingdom, and who are directly affected by the centre’s research on crash repairability, security and personal injury.

Speaking of his appointment, Paton said: “Over my 25 years in the insurance sector, I have seen the influence of Thatcham grow not just in the UK insurance and automotive sectors, but worldwide. The real value of the activities conducted are measured not just in claims management, but also in the increase in effective safety and security of motorists.

As Thatcham approaches its fortieth year, I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the Centre’s technicians to build on their expertise and to increase the benefits derived from this independent source, who set standards and raise skills with new and innovative solutions in so many different automotive spheres.”

Peter Roberts, chief executive of Thatcham, welcomes this new appointment “Bill has been a member of the Thatcham Board for over two years, and brings with him a wealth of experience of the insurance and automotive sectors; the Thatcham management look forward to working with him.”