’CFC is one of the genuine success stories of the specialty market — a business with a distinctive model, an exceptional team and real momentum,’ says Winslow
CFC has appointed former Direct Line Group (DLG) boss Adam Winslow as its new group chief executive.
Winslow will succeed current leader Louise O’Shea, who is stepping down but will remain a significant shareholder in the business.
CFC said that Winslow’s appointment follows a “rigorous succession process overseen by the board and O’Shea and he will join the business during the summer subject to regulatory approval”.
In the interim, Andy Holmes, group capacity director and a 23-year veteran of the business, will serve as acting chief executive to facilitate a seamless transition.
Winslow experience
Winslow joins CFC following a short stint as chief executive at DLG.
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He took up the role at DLG in March 2024, joining from Aviva, where he served as the UK general insurance top boss for just under three years.
However, with Aviva announcing its £3.7bn acquisition of DLG in December 2024, Winslow stepped down in July 2025.
CFC said his ”deep insurance expertise and strong execution focus will help CFC to accelerate its strategy, strengthen market leadership and capitalise on the next phase of growth”.
John Howard, chairman, said: “The appointment of Winslow as chief executive comes at an exciting time for CFC as it looks to further accelerate global growth while unlocking the significant potential of AI across its operations.
“He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience and a strong track record of delivering results in both public and private environments.”
Winslow added: “CFC is one of the genuine success stories of the specialty market — a business with a distinctive model, an exceptional team and real momentum.
”That’s what attracted me and it’s why I’m delighted to be joining. My thanks go to O’Shea for a warm handover and to Howard and the board for the opportunity to lead CFC into its next phase of growth. I can’t wait to get started.”
Stepping down
O’Shea steps down after serving as chief executive since January 2024.
She already knew CFC well prior to the appointment – serving as a non-executive director on its board since 2021.
She also boasted c-suite credentials after spending just over five years as the chief executive of aggregator platform Confused.com, a business she divested from its parent Admiral Group.
Howard said: “On behalf of the board and everyone in the business, I want to thank O’Shea for her significant contribution to CFC and the progress made under her leadership.
”I look forward to working with Winslow to build on the momentum that O’Shea and the team have achieved.”
O’Shea added: ”It has been an absolute privilege to work with the team and grow CFC into the incredible business it is today.
”I am particularly pleased to have significantly strengthened the foundations of the business while also improving its growth trajectory. My thanks go to all of the team at CFC who look after our customers, brokers and carriers, as well as each other, and make CFC a fantastic place to work.
“Winslow is a great leader for CFC’s next phase of development and international expansion and I wish him and the whole team every success for the future.”
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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