O'Roarke appointed new IFB chairman

LV= managing director of general insurance John O’Roarke (pictured) has been appointed as the chairman of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).

O’Roarke is a current director of the IFB and takes over from David Neave who stepped down from his four year spell as chairman after leaving Co-operative Insurance.

The new chairman said the IFB was recognised as the leading body in the industry’s fight against fraud and was looking to further investment to continue the good work the IFB have already done.

O’Roarke said: “Since launching in 2006, the IFB has established itself as a linchpin of the industry’s collective fight against fraud – a central hub for sharing critical fraud intelligence. Increasing investment in the IFB demonstrates the industry’s trust in the Bureau, which is projected to manage £160 million worth of organised fraud investigations by 2014.”

Association of British Insurers (ABI) director of general insurance Nick Starling said: “There can be no let -up in the industry’s crackdown on fraud to protect honest customers. The IFB has a key role to play in investigating fraudulent activity and working with the police to stamp out fraud. John’s appointment, combined with his chairmanship of the ABI’s Financial Crime Committee, will give added impetus to this important work.”

In his new role O’Roarke said he will focus on meeting the needs of the industry and developing a strategy for the future of the IFB.

He said: “As Chairman of the Board, my priority is to support the executive team in achieving the targets set by the industry in our business strategy. Over the next year, we will continue to consult IFB customers and stakeholders with a view to shaping the future of the organisation.”