Cunningham Lindsey UK chairman Loughney to retire

Cunningham Lindsey UK chairman Gerry Loughney will retire on 30 November this year after 43 years with the business.

However, he will continue as chairman of the trustees of the Cunningham Lindsey UK pension scheme.

Loughney joined Cunningham Lindsey predecessor Ellis & Buckle in 1970. He qualified as a chartered loss adjuster in 1973 and was appointed managing director of the company in 1987.

He played a “pivotal role” in the merger of Ellis & Buckle and Cunningham Hart, the company said. He became chief executive of the newly formed business, Cunningham Lindsey, in 1998 and then its chairman in 2006.

Cunningham Lindsey UK chief executive Phil McNeilage said: “Under Gerry’s leadership, the business has evolved and grown and is now one of the largest loss adjusting firms in the UK.

“A champion of innovation, he recognised the need for real time claims information, which enabled the introduction of client-dedicated service centres.

“He also pioneered a new approach to major incident management, coordinating expert adjusting services through the Specialist Adjusting Unit, and was instrumental in initiating the engineer-led approach to handling subsidence claims.

“Each new and inspired service option stringently adhered to professional loss adjusting ethics, which remain at the heart of the business today. His drive, intense enthusiasm and fastidious attention to detail are legendary, as is his passion for creating a great place to work.”

McNeilage added: “Gerry has been a very tough act to follow and we owe the continued success of our business to his extraordinary contribution, which spans more than four decades”.

Loughney said: “This is the right time to step down from Cunningham Lindsey and pursue other commercial interests.

“The business is in excellent shape. It has the right leadership, with enormous talent and expertise and a focus on innovation, professionalism and a commitment to clients.

“I’ve had the very good fortune to work with great people – colleagues and clients – across the industry over many years and I treasure the many memories and friendships made.”