The Protection Distributors Groups (PDG) has announced several board changes following its annual general meeting earlier this month.
Emma Thomson, former chair of the PDG, becomes vice chair in a newly introduced role to provide wider support to the group.
Thomson will be focused on member and sponsor engagement, promotion of PDG activities and expanding resources to help advisers.
Alan Lakey, a board member since the inception of the PDG, has stepped down from the board to concentrate on other business areas.
Lakey remains a member of the PDG and will continue to support activity through Highclere Financial Services.
Jo Miller, who has provided operational support to the group for four years, is also stepping down to focus on her other roles, particularly the IPTF and Protection Review.
Charlotte Rogers, protection specialist at Radcliffe & Co, has joined the Board.
Neil McCarthy, PDG Chair, said: “We will be working with insurers to release the 2025 claims charter, and I’m hoping that more insurers will be able to sign up to its terms and deliver consistently high service standards in the areas they control.
“We are currently undertaking a new project to try and agree some standardisation of Management Information to support the Product Governance demands that could potentially take out significant duplication in the market.
“We also want to help more people find the protection they need by encouraging insurers and intermediaries to deliver better consumer outcomes. By providing resources, education and advocacy, the PDG strives to raise the standard of service and advice in the sector, ensuring customers are well informed and properly protected.”
The PDG, which was established in 2016, has a mission to help people find the protection they need by encouraging insurers and intermediaries to deliver better consumer outcomes.
It has successfully created a Claims Charter outlining industry wide minimum best practice to help clients, which has been adopted by most insurers.
Sad to see so many people stepping away, but they obviously feel that the PDG is in good hands. Thanks go to all of them.
It will be interesting to see what the 2025 charter looks like and anything that improves MI had got to be a good thing.