Ecclesiastical appoints new leader for schemes business

Ecclesiastical has appointed Chris Withers to head up its schemes business, a statement released yesterday (5 July 2023) revealed.

The move will see Withers, who held the role of broker distribution director since 2016, take up the role of schemes and facilities director.

He previously worked as schemes manager and head of distribution at Covea as well as RSA in a variety of business development and leadership roles.

Adrian Saunders, commercial director at Ecclesiastical, said: “I’m delighted Chris has taken on the role.

“His expertise, passion and knowledge of the business will help us to deliver on our ambitious plans to grow our schemes business.”

As part of the changes within the business, distribution performance manager Geoff Turner will step up to fill Withers’ former role at Ecclesiastical.

Turner, who has 13 years of experience in insurance, joined the firm in 2018 having previously held a similar role at LV=.

“Geoff has helped us to develop positive relationships with broker partners and will build on that further still in his new role,” Saunders added.

Retirement

Withers will replace Tony Fletcher, who has now retired.

Fletcher joined Ecclesiastical in 1988 from Aviva and retires having led Ecclesiastical’s push in the schemes space since 2016. 

In his time with the business, he also worked in a number of different roles across the company’s underwriting and business development areas.

Saunders added: “I’d like to thank Tony and wish him all the best in his retirement.

”Under his guidance we’ve grown our schemes book and built new relationships with brokers and MGAs, as well as building on existing partnerships.

“He will be missed by peers, colleagues and his team as well as the brokers he has worked so closely with in his time with us.”