London-listed carrier Hiscox has named Bob Thaker as its new UK chief executive.

Thaker succeeds Steve Langan, who moved to the USA in 2018 as Hiscox USA CEO and remains the group’s chief marketing officer.

Thaker currently serves as CEO of Hiscox’s Asian direct-to-consumer personal lines insurance business, DirectAsia. 

He will relocate back to the UK and begin his new role in March 2019, when he will become responsible for an 800-strong UK team and will be based out of Birmingham. He will report to Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox Global Retail, who is responsible for Hiscox USA, Hiscox UK, Hiscox Europe and Hiscox Special Risks.

Thaker joined Hiscox in 2010, having joined as head of strategy before going on to serve as group chief risk officer. He then spent two years as head of claims for Hiscox UK and Europe, where he served on the UK leadership team. In 2014, he relocated to Asia to become COO of DirectAsia before taking the helm of the business at the start of 2015.

Commenting on Thaker’s appointment, Walter said: “Bob is a natural champion of the customer who will lead the UK team in its next phase of growth. We will benefit from Bob’s experience navigating intensely competitive markets and developing creative partnership opportunities.”

Thaker added: “I’m delighted to be returning to Hiscox UK and honoured to lead a great team which has consistently served customers superbly and created a strong market position over many years. I know from my time with the business a few years ago that we are fortunate to enjoy fabulous support from our broker partners for which we remain incredibly grateful. I look forward to working with the team and these terrific partners to build on these great foundations in the years ahead.”