The Chartered Insurance Institute has appointed senior figures from Markel, AXA, Chubb, First Central, Allianz, PIB, BIBA and the Association of British Insurers to a new Professional Communities Advisory Board, in a move aimed at bringing more direct practitioner input into its work on insurance standards, learning and thought leadership.
The new board, announced on 22 June 2026, will support the CII’s strategic thinking across its professional communities, with a particular focus on claims, underwriting and broking. Richard Napoli, Divisional Director, Customer Solutions at Markel, has been named chair, while Joel Markham, Director of Schemes and Delegated Authorities at AXA, will serve as deputy chair.
Other members include Janet Edey, Financial Lines Director at Chubb; Kerry D’Souza, Underwriting Director at First Central; Eibhlin Swan, Head of Claims and Customer Delivery at Allianz; Alycia Thomson, PEMA Practice Director and Chair of Global at PIB; Nicola Maguire, Commercial Director at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association; and Sheryl Fernando, Director of Membership and Commercial Strategy at the Association of British Insurers.
Legal professionals advising insurers, brokers, policyholders and regulated financial services businesses should see the development as more than an internal membership body appointment. The CII plays a visible role in professional standards across the insurance market, and its learning materials, research and guidance can influence how firms interpret conduct, claims handling, delegated authority arrangements and professional competence.
Solicitors and barristers working on coverage disputes, professional negligence claims or broker liability matters may therefore see CII outputs cited as part of the wider evidence of expected market practice.
The formation of the Professional Communities Advisory Board also arrives at a time when insurance businesses are under pressure from emerging risks, changing customer expectations, new technologies and regulatory scrutiny. In-house counsel will be watching how industry bodies translate practitioner concerns into guidance that can sit alongside Financial Conduct Authority expectations, Consumer Duty implementation and internal governance frameworks. Claims teams, underwriting committees and broking boards increasingly need legal input before policy wording, customer communications or delegated schemes are finalised.
Adam Harper, Executive Director, Advocacy and Professional Standards at the CII, said the board would help the institute understand the challenges and opportunities facing the profession and strengthen the relevance of its thought leadership and learning activity. That makes the new PCAB relevant not only to insurers but also to law firms advising clients on claims strategy, compliance, training, professional standards and market-facing risk.
The legal sector implication is that insurance guidance shaped by senior practitioners may become harder to ignore in disputes, regulatory reviews and governance audits. Law firms acting for insurers, brokers and commercial policyholders should monitor how the CII’s new board influences future guidance, because today’s professional insight can quickly become tomorrow’s benchmark for reasonable conduct.