The International Group (IG) has appointed Nick Shaw as its new group CEO, whilst Paul Jennings will become chairman.

Shaw will succeed Andrew Bardot following his retirement in July 2019.

Shaw currently serves as global industry group leader at international law firm Reed Smith, a position he has held since 2007.

He will join IG as the group secretariat in April 2019 and will work alongside Bardot during the handover period before taking the reins as CEO of the P&I group.

Shaw has practised in shipping and marine insurance law since 1990 and has worked closely with the group clubs throughout his career.

IG also announced that Hugo Wynn-Williams will step down as group chairman next month following the conclusion of his three-year term in the role. He will be replaced by Paul Jennings, CEO of the North of England Club.

Commenting on Shaw’s appointment, Wynn-Williams said: "The Group is delighted to have secured such a strong candidate to take over and build on the considerable progress which the Group Secretariat team under the leadership of Andrew Bardot has achieved over the past 13 years, in particular in raising the effectiveness and wider awareness of the vital role played by the Group and its member clubs in facilitating maritime trade, and in ensuring a sustainable and robust global compensation mechanism to meet the needs of those impacted by Maritime accidents.

“Nick has a strong background and reputation in the Maritime legal sector, and is very well known to the Group clubs with whom he has worked over many years, and he and the Secretariat team will be very well placed to continue the work to raise levels of awareness and understanding of the collective benefits which the Group system delivers, and to assist the Group in identifying and navigating the challenges in the years ahead."