Global law firm Clyde & Co has appointed two independent board members, the equivalent of non-executive directors, to its management board – the first time such a position has been created at the firm.
Lloyd's of London's former chief executive officer, Dame Inga Beale, and Grant Thornton US's former chief executive officer, Stephen Chipman, will join Clyde & Co's management board on January 1, 2020.
Peter Hirst, senior partner at Clyde & Co, said, "The appointment of Inga and Stephen as independent board members is a significant move for us as we seek to ensure that we have industry-leading governance and decision-making structures in place that reflect the size, global nature, and ambitions of the firm.
"Inga and Stephen are both well-known leaders in their fields and will provide us with objective and independent views, advice, and constructive challenge to help inform our decision-making and ensure that the voice of the client is at the heart of our governance."
Ms. Beale was CEO of Lloyd's between 2014 and 2018, during which she initiated a large-scale digital and cultural transformation program and led its expansion into China, Dubai, and India. She has held senior leadership positions across the insurance sector globally including as group CEO at the reinsurance groups Canopius and Converium, and has previously held management positions at Zurich Insurance and GE Insurance Solutions.
Mr. Chipman has held senior roles across Grant Thornton for the past 20 years, most notably as CEO for the firm in the United States and China. In 2016, he became CEO of technology-enabled business services company Radius and subsequently held the role of group managing director for international expansion services when Radius was acquired by international expansion consultancy and services company Vistra in 2018.
Ms. Beale stated, "Having worked in the insurance market over the course of four decades, joining the largest insurance law firm in the world represents a natural next step for me. I feel I can provide a client-side insight that will benefit Clyde & Co's management operations as well as the day-to-day work the firm does with clients."
Mr. Chipman added, "Given the significant growth that the firm has experienced over the past few years, this is an exciting time to be joining Clyde & Co. I'm looking forward to working closely alongside the leadership team to get to grips with the challenges and opportunities that such an ambitious, rapidly-expanding business naturally faces."
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].