• Forums & Workshops
• iNED Forum - Becoming a Successful Independent Director or Chair

With increased regulation, volatility and complexity, the roles of NED and Chair on Insurance boards have become more demanding and time consuming. The higher expectations placed on NEDs and Chairs have meant that individuals can take on fewer such roles, whilst fees have increased in recognition of the greater time commitment expected. In particular, the role of Chair has evolved with a requirement today for a greater technical understanding of the businesses they are chairing, the ability to lead through a crisis, to put together a diverse board with complementary skills and experience, and to manage multiple stakeholders, including regulators.

In this Forum, Patrick Snowball, Chairman of Vanquis Bank Group ( previously Provident Financial ), will provide a view of what skills it requires to chair a company, what issues to look out for and how he prepared himself for the role. He will address the importance of on-boarding and developing NEDs with the right skills. Karen Green, who has built a portfolio of NED roles, will speak about the challenges she faced in finding these roles, the recurring issues to be aware of, and how she has developed her plural career. Simon Hearn, Chairman of Per Ardua Associates Ltd., will then address managing a NED career and how to get the right roles.       

Learning objectives

Participants should be able to:

• Summarise what makes a good Chair in our industry, how to prepare for that role and how to steer through a crisis

• Describe how a Chair can help on-board NEDs and provide training for directors

• Identify what makes a high quality NED in our industry and what to look out for in that role

• Articulate how to manage a portfolio career and obtain the right roles.

This in person iNED Forum is open to insurance Non-Executive Directors (iNEDs), aspiring iNEDs, Company Secretaries, Board advisers and all those involved with corporate governance in the insurance sector.