The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has honoured its former director general David Bland with only the fourth gold medal awarded in its history.
About 100 people gathered at the CII offices on Tuesday last week to celebrate the achievements of Bland, who finished his executive responsibilities at Easter. He officially retired on December 9.
Bland, a renowned academic, also chaired the Society of Financial Advisors and the Society of Technicians in Insurance. He was with the CII for ten years and has gone on to work with the University of East London.
"The world moves on, I've moved on," Bland said. "My retirement is only from the institute, not from life and not from insurance."
Bland, who wrought great changes during his time at the CII and left it with some its best financial results, said he did not expect to see any of his innovations still in use at the institute within a few years, as the industry embraced technology and moved ahead.
He said that the 150,000 people with CII qualifications were the key to the future.
"They'll keep the industry relevant, profitable and dynamic," he said.
