Jane Barker appointed chairman of Marsh

Marsh has announced the appointment of Jane Barker as chairman of Marsh Ltd with effect from 1 August.  

Barker has been a non-executive director of the company since 2010 and will succeed Sir Peter Middleton.

Barker is chief executive of Equitas, the Lloyd’s entity set up to reinsure and run off the insurance market’s pre-1993 business, and has served as its finance director since 1995. Previously she was chief operating officer of the London Stock Exchange, and has also spent 14 years with Marsh, joining CT Bowring, later acquired by Marsh, in 1976, becoming managing director and international chief financial officer in 1988.

Marsh chief executive Mark Weil said: “Since joining the board, Jane has made a substantial contribution to the company. With her extensive background in financial services and her deep knowledge of our business, she is ideally-placed to provide strong advice and guidance for our UK operations.”

Barker said: “It has been gratifying to watch Marsh progress from strength to strength in the three years since I rejoined the company. I look forward to working with Mark and the UK leadership team to ensure we remain fully-focused on serving the needs of clients and providing them with world-class solutions.”

In addition to her responsibilities at Equitas, Barker is a member of the council of the Royal College of Music and a Lay Canon and a member of the chapter of Salisbury Cathedral. She was formerly a non-executive director of Santander UK plc.

Following his retirement from the Marsh Ltd board, Sir Peter Middleton will remain UK chairman and country corporate officer for Marsh’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies, and chairman of sister company, Mercer Ltd.