’[He] is the perfect person to lead the next phase of our journey,’ says outgoing chief executive
Digital insurtech managing general agent (MGA) Ripe has named Alan Thomas as its new chief executive.
Thomas joins from broker Simply Business, where he held the position of UK chief executive for nearly five years.
He succeeds Paul Williams, who will be transitioning into a non-executive director position at Ripe after nearly eight years as the top boss.
John Woosey, founder and managing director, will also move to a non-executive director role.
These moves come as the MGA looks to further its merger and acquisition (M&A) activities and double its office space
Speaking about Thomas joining the business, Williams said: “Thomas is the perfect person to lead the next phase of our journey.
”I couldn’t be prouder of the Ripe team and our success to date and I have no doubt that Thomas, with his wealth of strategic leadership experience and deep insurance industry knowledge, will achieve fantastic results.”
This appointment is Ripe’s second senior addition, with it hiring Jamie Richards as head of M&A in July 2024.
Thomas’ Experience
Prior to becoming chief executive at Simply Business in December 2019, Thomas worked as its chief commercial officer for almost three and a half years.
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He also spent more than 12 years at insurer Hiscox and held various senior positions, including head of technology and media for the UK and Ireland, as well as head of intermediary sales and distribution.
Prior to this, Thomas worked as a senior commercial underwriter at RSA.
He said: “Ripe has been on my radar following its impressive trajectory in previous years and I’ve long admired [its] unique approach of using data, digital marketing and technology to improve the way customers experience insurance.”
Laurel Powers-Freeling, chair at Ripe, noted that Thomas’ appointment “underscores Ripe’s ambitions and product expansion plans, while highlighting the ability to attract top talent”.
Thomas continued: “This is a great time to join Ripe, using the platform to transform the way consumers experience insurance, harnessing data and technology to turbocharge our expansion. With such strong foundations already in place within Ripe, I’m confident about what lies ahead and excited to begin this new chapter.”
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