Leadership 

Penny James joined the Board as an Executive Director in November 2017 and became Chief Executive Officer on 9 May 2019.

Penny has extensive financial services experience, having been Group Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director at Prudential plc, where she was responsible for leading risk oversight globally. Before this she was Director of Group Finance at Prudential. She had previously been Group Chief Financial Officer at Omega Insurance Holdings Limited and CFO, UK General Insurance, at Zurich Financial Services. Penny was a Non-Executive Director of Admiral Group plc from January 2015 to September 2017.

She is a member of the Association of British Insurers Board and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Committee Membership
Executive Committee
Investment Committee
CSR Committee

Mike joined the Board as an Executive Director in February 2017 and is Managing Director, Personal Lines.

Mike joined Direct Line in 2014 and has over 10 years’ insurance industry experience. Under his leadership, the Personal Lines division has delivered strong growth, improved profitability and strengthened its competitive position. This has been achieved through a strong focus on our customers, by enhancing our proposition across our brands and channels, and improving our capability in trading, pricing and digital.

Mike was previously CEO of RSA Group’s Scandinavian businesses, Codan A/S and Trygg-Hansa, and before that UK Managing Director of Personal Lines at RSA, responsible for the MORETH>N, Partnerships and the Broker businesses. Before joining RSA, Mike had many general management, marketing and customer growth roles across several industries including the energy, telecoms and retail sectors.

Mike is a member of the Association of British Insurers General Insurance Council.

Committee Membership
Executive Committee

Jonathan joined the Group in 2000 and is Managing Director, Commercial.

Jonathan has over 30 years’ experience of the insurance industry. He is responsible for delivering the Commercial strategy, developing customer propositions, enhancing the Commercial brands and delivering efficiencies within the Commercial businesses.

Under Jonathan’s leadership, the Commercial division has returned to profit, delivered strong growth within Direct Line for Business, improved its pricing capabilities and strengthened NIG’s competitive position. He has also delivered enhanced customer propositions and improved digital capabilities.

Jonathan was previously Managing Director of the Group’s household and life businesses. He joined the Group as Product and Pricing Director for UK Partnerships. Before joining the Group, Jonathan held roles at HBOS, MBNA and Pinnacle.

Simon joined the Group in 2014 and is Human Resources Director.

Simon is responsible for leading the Group’s HR function, Internal & External Communications and Public Affairs. He is also responsible for delivering the Group’s People and CSR strategies. Simon is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Under Simon’s leadership, the Group has achieved significant improvements in employee engagement, people development, succession planning and diversity & inclusion. Simon’s achievements include the Group becoming a signatory to the Women in Finance Charter, and the successful implementation of the Group’s Graduate and Apprenticeship schemes.

Simon has spent the majority of his career as a leader in customer-centric businesses. Before moving into HR, Simon held several commercial business roles in the fast-moving consumer goods and financial services sectors. Simon is also a trustee of the KidsOut UK charity.

Committee Membership
CSR Committee

Steve joined the Group in 2010 and is Chief Operating Officer.

Steve has nearly 30 years’ experience of the insurance industry. He is responsible for leading the Group’s Claims, Information Technology (“IT”), Information Security, Procurement and Business Services functions.

Under Steve’s leadership, the Group has realised significant benefits and efficiencies through delivering the claims transformation programme, rationalising the Group’s property footprint, enhancing the procurement and contract management processes, and implementing the IT transformation programmes.

Steve’s previous roles include Director of Strategic and Technical Claims at RSA, Director of Claims and Customer Service at Capita, and Director of Operations at AMP. Steve is also Chairman of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

Humphrey joined the Group in 2011 and is General Counsel.

Humphrey has over 25 years’ experience as a solicitor. He is responsible for the Group Legal function and oversees a range of areas of legal advice and services.

During Humphrey’s leadership of the Group Legal function and its team of lawyers, he has overseen the legal aspects of the Group’s £500 million debt issue, the initial public offering and the related separation of the Group from RBS Group, the sale of the Group’s International division, and the 2017 £350 million Restricted Tier 1 debt issue. He is also a Director of DLG Legal Services Limited.

Humphrey’s experience includes advising on corporate and commercial matters, steering corporate transactions in the UK and internationally, managing legal risk and dealing with corporate governance issues. Before joining the Group, Humphrey was Group Legal Director at RSA and prior to that he was a corporate lawyer with the City law firm, Ashurst Morris Crisp. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford.

José joined the Group in 2012 and is Chief Risk Officer.

José has over 25 years’ experience of the insurance industry. He is responsible for the Group’s Risk Management and Compliance function and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

During José’s leadership of the Risk and Compliance function, the Group has achieved separation from RBS Group, delivered its initial public offering and sold its International division. José successfully led the programme to implement Solvency II and to design, build and obtain approval from the PRA for the Group’s Internal Model. Under his stewardship, the Group’s approach to risk management has developed and matured. This has been achieved by enhancing and embedding greater ownership of risk management in the business and driving improvements in risk behaviours and attitudes across the Group.

José was previously Global Chief Risk Officer and Group Chief Actuary at HSBC Insurance. Before joining HSBC, José worked for Zurich Insurance, first in its London Market Operations, then as Chief Actuary International Business Division (Asia, Latin America and Africa) and lastly as Chief Actuary in the UK.

Penny James joined the Board as an Executive Director in November 2017 and became Chief Executive Officer on 9 May 2019. 

Penny has extensive financial services experience, having been Group Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director at Prudential plc, where she was responsible for leading risk oversight globally. Before this she was Director of Group Finance at Prudential. She had previously been Group Chief Financial Officer at Omega Insurance Holdings Limited and CFO, UK General Insurance, at Zurich Financial Services. Penny was a Non-Executive Director of Admiral Group plc from January 2015 to September 2017.

Penny is a member of the Association of British Insurers Board and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. 

Committee Membership
Executive Committee
Investment Committee

CSR Committee

Mike joined the Board as an Executive Director in February 2017 and is Managing Director, Personal Lines.

Mike joined Direct Line in 2014 and has over 10 years’ insurance industry experience. Under his leadership, the Personal Lines division has delivered strong growth, improved profitability and strengthened its competitive position. This has been achieved through a strong focus on our customers, by enhancing our proposition across our brands and channels, and improving our capability in trading, pricing and digital.

Mike was previously CEO of RSA Group’s Scandinavian businesses, Codan A/S and Trygg-Hansa, and before that UK Managing Director of Personal Lines at RSA, responsible for the MORETH>N, Partnerships and the Broker businesses. Before joining RSA, Mike had many general management, marketing and customer growth roles across several industries including the energy, telecoms and retail sectors.

Mike is a member of the Association of British Insurers General Insurance Council.

Committee Membership
Executive Committee

Dr. Richard Ward joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director in January 2016.

Richard was Non-Executive Chairman of Brit Syndicates Ltd from 2016 to 2018. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of Lloyd’s of London from 2006 to 2013 and was Executive Chairman of Cunningham Lindsey from 2014 to 2018. He was also a Non-Executive Director of Partnership Assurance Group plc, now part of Just Group plc, between 2013 and 2016 and was Chairman of the Remuneration Committee from 2014 to 2016. Richard previously worked for over 10 years at the London-based International Petroleum Exchange, the second largest energy trading exchange, re-branded ICE Futures, as both CEO and Vice-Chairman. He has extensive insurance industry experience and insight into prudential regulation.

Prior to the International Petroleum Exchange, Richard held a range of senior positions at British Petroleum and was Head of Marketing & Business Development for energy derivatives worldwide at Tradition Financial Services.

Richard is Executive Chairman of the Specialty & International and Managing General Agent divisions at the Ardonagh Group. Richard serves as a member of the PRA Practitioner Panel, Bank of England.

Committee Membership
Risk Committee
Nomination Committee

Danuta Gray joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in February 2017 and is Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Danuta was Chairman of Telefónica O2 in Ireland until December 2012, having previously been its Chief Executive from 2001 to 2010. During her nine year tenure as Chief Executive, she increased the customer base from just under 1 million to over 1.7 million. She was a Non-Executive Director of PageGroup plc from 2013 to 2018. Prior to Telefónica O2, Danuta held various senior positions within BT Group from 1984 to 2001.

Danuta is Chair Designate and Non-Executive Director of St. Modwen Properties plc. She is Senior Independent Director of Aldermore Group plc, and a Non-Executive Member of the Defence Board of the UK Ministry of Defence.

Committee Membership
Nomination committee
Remuneration Committee

Mark Gregory joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in March 2018 and is Chair of the Investment Committee.

Mark has extensive experience and knowledge of the financial services sector, and in particular, financial and insurance experience gained through his roles at Legal & General Group plc (“Legal & General”). Additionally, he has detailed understanding of the retail sector and customer service. Mark is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Mark was Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at Legal & General until August 2017. During his 18 year career at Legal & General, he held a variety of senior roles including Chief Executive Officer of the Savings business, Managing Director of the With-Profits business, and Resources & International Director. Before joining Legal & General, Mark held senior financial and business development roles at ASDA and Kingfisher.

Mark is Chief Executive Officer of Merian Global Investors Limited.

Committee Membership
Audit Committee
Investment Committee
Remuneration Committee

Jane Hanson joined the Board in December 2011 and is Chair of the Board Risk Committee.

Jane has extensive experience of risk management, corporate governance and internal control. She also has wide experience of developing and monitoring customer and conduct risk frameworks and overseeing IT and transformation programmes.

Jane spent her early career with KPMG, working in the financial sector, becoming responsible for delivering corporate governance, internal audit and risk-management services in the north of England. Jane has also held a number of executive roles, including Director of Audit, and Risk and Governance Director at Aviva plc. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. 

Jane is Chair of Reclaim Fund Ltd and an Independent Member of the Fairness Committee at ReAssure Ltd. She is the Honorary Treasurer and a Trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee and has her own financial sector consulting business. Jane is also a magistrate.

Committee Membership
Audit Committee
Risk Committee
CSR Committee
Investment Committee

Sebastian James joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in August 2014 and is Chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

Sebastian has extensive experience in retail and consumer practice at large groups; and has a detailed understanding of the UK consumer markets, products and brands. Sebastian was Group Chief Executive Officer of Dixons Carphone plc until 3 April 2018. Prior to that he was Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Insurance Services Limited and subsequently gained wide retail experience as Strategy Director responsible for developing and implementing the turnaround strategy at Mothercare.

Sebastian is Senior Vice President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President and Managing Director of Boots. He is also a trustee of the charity Save the Children.

Committee Membership
Remuneration committee
CSR committee

Fiona McBain joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in September 2018.

Fiona has over 30 years’ experience in retail financial services, in the industry and as an auditor, in the UK and the USA. She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

Fiona served as Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Friendly Group for 11 years, before which she was Scottish Friendly Group’s Finance Director.

Fiona is currently Chairman of Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust plc and Non-Executive Director of Dixons Carphone plc. 

Committee Membership
Audit Committee

Gregor Stewart joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in March 2018 and is Chair of the Audit Committee.

Gregor has wide-ranging experience of financial services, and in particular, significant finance, audit, risk management and distribution experience gained in the insurance and investment management sectors. Gregor is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

Gregor worked with Ernst & Young for 23 years, including 10 years as a partner in the financial services practice. Following his career at Ernst & Young, he was Finance Director for the Insurance division of Lloyds Banking Group plc, which included Scottish Widows, from 2009 to 2012.

Gregor is Deputy Chairman of Alliance Trust plc, Chairman of Intrinsic Financial Services Limited and is a Non-Executive Director of FNZ Group. He is Honorary Treasurer of the charity International Alert.

Committee Membership
Risk Committee
Audit Committee (Chair)