Specialist insurance provider CFC has appointed industry veteran John Howard (pictured above) as chair, subject to regulatory approval, as the company steps up its growth push in the US specialty insurance market.
Howard brings more than 30 years of sector experience, with a track record in US specialty lines, CFC's largest distribution market and a stated priority for future expansion.
He was previously chairman and chief executive officer of Truist Insurance Holdings, which housed brands including AmRisc, CRC, Crump, McGriff and Starwind.
He also serves as independent non-executive director at Everest Group, chairman of Compre Group, and chairman of The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, giving him wide reach across the US broking and specialty insurance community.
The appointment follows earlier investment in CFC's onshore US leadership, including the hire of Justin Camara as chief executive officer of CFC USA in January.
At the time of his appointment, Camara described US expansion as a priority for the business "over the coming years," pointing to CFC's innovation agenda and customer-centric approach.
While best known as a cyber insurance pioneer, CFC has built a diversified specialty platform spanning more than 60 products across 30 lines, operating in 90 countries, with close to half of its business originating in the US.
Howard said CFC is "a unique business and one of the most exciting growth stories in insurance," pointing to its position as a global specialty insurer serving small and medium-sized enterprises.
He added that rising complexity in the risk landscape is driving stronger demand for the company's products, supported by its proprietary technology and culture of continuous improvement.
Richard Ward, who has served as chair since 2022, will remain on the board as senior independent non-executive director. CFC said his tenure delivered sustained performance for the group.
Ward said he is "immensely proud of what we have achieved together" during his time in the role. He described CFC as a strong, resilient business with a clear sense of purpose and said he would support a smooth transition under Howard's leadership.
Howard acknowledged Ward's contribution, citing his leadership and constructive challenge during his tenure.
He said he looked forward to working with Ward, group chief executive Louise O'Shea and the management team as CFC continues what he described as a fast-growing, capital-light and innovative trajectory in specialty insurance.
O'Shea said CFC has been future-proofed under Ward's stewardship and is positioned to accelerate growth in coming years.
She added that Howard's "wealth of experience and leadership in US specialty will be an asset to us as we enter this next phase of global growth," welcoming him to the board.
