Neal thanks colleagues for helping ‘turn the great ship of Lloyd’s around’

John Neal has thanked colleagues for “turning the great ship of Lloyd’s around” on his last day as chief executive at the marketplace.

Neal became Lloyd’s chief executive in 2018 and has led the strategic direction of the marketplace for the last seven years.

Last Friday (30 May 2025) marked his last day as the top boss, with him moving to Aon as its new global chief executive of reinsurance and global chairman of climate solutions.

Neal used his last day on the job to reflect on a career that began in 1985 and culminated in leading Lloyd’s through some of its most critical modernisation efforts, including Blueprint Two. He stated that the core build of Blueprint Two had been complete.

Neal said: “On my last day as its chief executive, I am filled with a mix of emotions and a deep sense of gratitude for the many colleagues, friends and peers who have played a huge role in turning the great ship of Lloyd’s around.

”I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who trusted this lowly motor underwriter to lead Lloyd’s for almost seven years – for your collaboration, commitment and camaraderie as we have navigated a host of challenges.

“[This includes] dramatically turning around our financial performance, to embracing digitalisation – I’m pleased to say that the core build of Blueprint Two is, as of yesterday, complete – to transforming the culture of our market. Together we have worked tirelessly to restore Lloyd’s to its world-leading position, a position we can all own and feel rightly proud of as a marketplace.”

Support

As part of his departure message, Neal thanked Bruce Carnegie-Brown for his support and said he was confident in the leadership of new chair Sir Charles Roxburgh and Patrick Tiernan, who has been named Neal’s successor as chief executive.

Neal said: “I have no doubt they will be incredibly successful in leading our market into the future – whatever that might hold.”

He also said the opportunity to give back to the market that shaped his career was one of the greatest privileges of his professional life.

He concluded: “I am reminded of the Lloyd’s motto, ‘Fidentia,’ which speaks to the confidence and assured hope we must carry forward. Thank you for allowing me to play a small role in ensuring Lloyd’s can look ahead with optimism for many decades to come.”