RSA promotes for new chief compliance officer

RSA Insurance has today (11 August 2022) appointed Peter Townsend as its new chief compliance officer for its UK and international business.

Townsend will be responsible for implementing and monitoring regulatory developments and creating support frameworks and policies.

He will work with business areas affected by regulatory change and provide advice and guidance to the RSA board and executive team, as well as working with RSA’s parent company Intact.

Dave Howell, chief risk officer at RSA, said: “We’re delighted to have promoted [Townsend] into this important role – where he’ll be responsible for managing RSA’s response to the regulations that govern us – and look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Continuing journey

Most recently, Townsend was the group head of financial crime and UK and international head of data protection at Canadian insurer Intact, which bought RSA in June 2021 with Danish insurer Tryg A/S. 

Townsend has worked at RSA for a decade, joining the insurer as legal counsel in February 2012. Since then, he has held roles as RSA’s group head of financial crime and group data protection officer.

Prior to joining RSA, Townsend was a solicitor at Berwin Leighton Paisner and Clifford Chance. He has also worked as an associate solicitor at Manchester-based legal services firm Halliwells and international law firm Lewis Silken.

Townsend said: “I’m really pleased to take on this new role, continuing my journey at RSA and would like to thank all my colleagues for their support over the years.

“Insurance is a highly regulated sector and my background as a solicitor means that I’m well placed to monitor, manage and implement these rules. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Howell added: “Given Peter’s extensive experience, dedication, and performance at RSA over the last ten years, it is clear that he is the right candidate for the job.