The chairman of listed accident management assistance group Helphire is to retire as of 1 January 2002.

Martin Kinney, who has been non-executive chairman of the Group since its flotation in April 1997, will be replaced by Michael Symons.

Symons, who will act as part-time executive chairman, was chief executive of the company until September 2001, when he became deputy chairman.

Non-executive director Roger Taylor is to become deputy chairman. He will assume the corporate governance responsibilities usually associated with the chairman.

These include chairing the remuneration and nominations committees. Taylor is currently non-executive chairman of Amlin and is a past chairman of the Association British Insurers.

A new non-executive director, Richard Burrell, will join the board at the same time as these changes.

Burrell is a director of Westbury Asset Management and was formerly a senior managing director of ING-Barings. He was previously an executive director at UBS Warburg.

Nicholas Tilley will become company secretary, in addition to his role as company solicitor.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.