Association of British Insurers (ABI) board member and former chair Andy Briggs is taking on a new position at the trade body.
Briggs, the chief executive of Phoenix Group who chaired the ABI until late 2018, has been tasked with heading the association’s new board committee on climate change. As chair of the newly formed committee, which consists of 10 ABI board members, he will help coordinate and drive collective focus on climate change and sustainability.
“I’m delighted to be taking on the role as chair of this vital new committee at the ABI,” commented Briggs, who remained on the board as senior independent director following his stint as ABI chair.
“The impact of climate change is one of the biggest global issues of today and in the run-up to COP-26 (Conference of the Parties), it is essential that as an insurance industry, investing trillions on behalf of our customers, we work together with Government and wider stakeholders to drive positive change.”
Aimed at driving the industry’s climate change strategy and progress, the committee will meet for the first time next month. Its focus will be on delivering what the ABI described as an “ambitious sector-wide approach” to reaching Net Zero; identifying how the industry’s investments and underwriting can enable the so-called green industrial revolution; and identifying how insurance and long-term savings customers can be supported to make more sustainable choices.
Commenting on the development, ABI director general Huw Evans stated: “We’re delighted that Andy has agreed to chair the board’s new climate change committee.
“There has never been a more crucial time for the insurance and long-term savings industry to act on our collective potential to do more to invest in transitioning the economy to Net Zero and managing the effects of climate change. The new board committee confirms our commitment to this challenge.”
