Cornish Mutual appoints Richard Lane as new Board Chair
Farming insurance experts Cornish Mutual has announced Richard Lane has been appointed Board Chair, taking over from Cornish farmer Jeremy Oatey. He has been a Non-Executive Director since 2018, becoming Chair of the Risk Audit Committee in 2021.
Richard started his insurance career working in the farming communities of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, before taking on wider roles covering the South and South West of England & Wales and now lives in Dorset.
He has previously been Managing Director at Ansvar Insurance with a specialist focus on working with charities and not-for-profit organisations, also having worked at LV=, Zurich and RSA.
Richard becomes Board Chair as farming goes through a level of change impacting all Cornish Mutual Members. But he believes the mutual has a deep understanding of the sector enabling it to remain agile and responsive, supporting them through whatever lies ahead.
“Change is easier when you’re not alone and as we concentrate on how we can be there for Members, we will be more open and accessible than ever before,” he said.
“I have always loved the culture of Cornish Mutual. As a mutual, it is totally Member focused and I regard it as a true Member organisation. As we stay abreast of the fast-paced transformation resulting from digitalisation and artificial intelligence, with systems at risk of becoming less personalised, we strive to keep the ‘human touch’ in all we do. This is what sets us apart.
“I look forward to serving Cornish Mutual Members as Chair, building on what’s gone before and drawing on my own previous experience; it is an honour I fully embrace.”
Commenting on the appointment, Cornish Mutual Chief Executive Officer Peter Beaumont said: “Richard has been a valued member of the Board for some years now, always offering wise counsel to the Executive. I am delighted he has been appointed Chair and look forward to our continued work together.”
Other recent Board changes have seen Bridget Whell’s appointment as a Non-Executive Director ratified by Members at the AGM in March and Simon Moore joining the Board to fill the vacancy arising from Jeremy Oatey’s retirement.