IUA’s new chief executive steps up following veteran’s retirement

Chris Jones has formally begun his role as chief executive at the International Underwriting Association (IUA) today (May 1 2025.).

Jones succeeds Dave Matcham, who decided to retire in March after leading the market body for more than two decades.

The association’s new leader previously served as the IUA’s director of legal, underwriting and claims for over 10 years.

Jones said his focus would be on enhancing the association’s underwriting and claims capabilities, alongside modernisation and regulatory advocacy.

He also announced plans to strengthen the IUA’s research function and move away from siloed approaches to risk analysis.

Jones commented: “In terms of insurance topics, one of my initial priorities will be to reassess how the IUA approaches emerging and systemic risks.

”Rather than taking a siloed, class-specific view, we will explore a more integrated approach – one that helps our members understand, manage and respond to the changing nature of risk, particularly where protection gaps are emerging for insurance buyers.”

Jones noted that the IUA’s strategic pillars – market modernisation, regulatory support, and technical intelligence – would remain, but with a renewed emphasis on operational delivery and outcome-driven initiatives.

He continued: “We must not lose sight of the fact that London as a global hub lives or dies by its underwriting and claims expertise. We will bring that front and central to our operations, by furthering our engagement with members on identifying and promoting technical excellence.”

The next generation

The IUA currently has more than 1,000 committee participants. Jones indicated a desire to expand the reach of the association’s engagement beyond this base by involving more early-career professionals and improving inclusivity in technical discussions.

“I hope to foster greater collaboration and inclusivity into the process of managing technical issues – inviting a broader range of voices, especially from the next generation,” he added.

Jones assumes the role as the London market continues to face regulatory complexity, heightened geopolitical volatility and the need to modernise legacy systems.