Chris Hanks Announced as New NSI Chairman
The name of the new NSI chairman has now been announced. Chris Hanks will succeed the current Chair, Sir Francis Richards, with effect from November 2013.
Following a detailed series of selection interviews, Mr Chris Hanks has been selected to Chair the NSI Board. Chris has had a distinguished career in the insurance industry and his most recent appointment has been with Allianz Insurance plc.
Hanks began his career as an underwriter in casualty and property insurance and soon progressed to be UK Manager for NEM Insurance. He rose to be Head of Business Units for AGF Insurance Group before promotions took him to be General Manager of Allianz Insurance’s commercial operations in the UK with responsibility for the profitability, growth, sales and operation of all commercial and engineering business and as a member of Allianz UK Management Board.
Hanks also held the appointments of Chairman, Allianz Business Services Ltd, Director, Allianz Engineering Ltd, Board Committee Member for Reinsurance, IT Major Projects, Talent and Risk, Director, Chartered Insurance Institute, Trustee, Chartered Insurance Institute Pension Fund and Chairman, Polaris (UK) Ltd.
Prominent within the insurance market Hanks has been an FSA Approved Person for 15 years and has held executive and representative roles in a number of market bodies (ABI, BIBA, FPA, Polaris, CII). He has a personal passion and commitment to the development of professionalism and talent in industry.
On his appointment at NSI, Hanks said “I am delighted to be joining NSI at a time when there is so much change and opportunity in the fire and security sectors. New technology, new regulatory regimes, ever changing business models and of course new standards at national, European and International level will set challenges in every area.”
Hanks continued “I hope that my commercial background and experience within the insurance industry will add significant value to NSI’s future operations and I wish to stress the inherent value of sector specific third party certification to specifiers, procurers, insurers and end users alike. I am particularly passionate about developing professionalism and talent in industry and I hope to draw upon my commitment to this during my tenure as Chairman of NSI”.
Jeff Little, CEO of NSI said “These are exciting times for the fire and security sectors and NSI is adapting to the new business reality of the 21st Century. We look forward to welcoming Chris as we move towards a more risk based, customer friendly NSI whilst continuing to strive for improved standards across both sectors.”