Fisher has spent six years as the professional body’s chief executive

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has today (1 October 2021) announced that its chief executive Sian Fisher will be stepping down next year, after serving more than six years at the helm of the professional body.

Fisher was appointed as chief executive in 2016. She will now complete a six-month notice period and leave the CII on 31 March 2022.

Originally, her term as chief executive would have finished at the end of 2020, but due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the arrival of a new CII chair in July 2020, she was offered the opportunity to extend her tenure.

Speaking about stepping down from her position, Fisher said: “It has been an absolute privilege to work with all my dedicated colleagues and the board to transition the CII into a more sustainable, relevant, modern and diverse professional body.

“I look forward to spending the next six months overseeing our forthcoming membership consultation – Shaping the Future Together – and supporting the transition to a successor who will lead the next phase of the CII’s development.”

Aston Lark’s group chief executive Peter Blanc has been apppointed as the CII’s president for 2022. 

Fit for the future

During her tenure, Fisher has led the modernisation of the CII, resolved several complex and historic issues, as well as oversaw the delivery of the body’s new manifesto, CII strategy, IT transformation and a significant culture change programme.

Fisher continued: “When I joined the CII in 2016, I made a commitment to modernise the organisation during my five-year term, to make sure it was fit for the future and supported the vital role our members play in society.

“I’ve always believed that helping advance the influence and impact of the insurance and personal finance profession is helping advance opportunity and equality for all.”

Fisher’s decision to step down has been timed to cover the full period of the forthcoming membership consultation, which is due to launch this month (October) and conclude in Q1 2022.

This will enable the board to recruit a successor to take forward its refreshed strategy and resulting five-year plan.

Helen Phillips, the CII’s chair, said: “Fisher has led the CII at a pivotal time and as a board we are enormously grateful to her for all that she has achieved.

”We look forward to evolving her legacy, with a clear focus on building public trust and helping our members to support their clients in becoming more financially resilient.

“I want to thank Fisher personally. It has been a privilege and a delight to work with someone whose intellectual agility and commitment to the CII is matched only by her integrity, graciousness and unerring good humour. I look forward to continuing to work together over the next six months.”

Prior to becoming the CII’s chief executive, Fisher worked as vice-president from 2003 to 2009, where she built relationships with many of the CII’s local institutes.

She also served on the board between 2004 and 2010, where she chaired the General Insurance Working Group (GIWG), which was set up to reshape the qualification framework.

Fisher is additionally a long-standing member of the Insurance Institute of London.