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Ireland
David joins the specialist insurer from Admiral, where he has been CEO, Admiral Business, and brings a wealth of experience to the business.
He led the development of Admiral Group’s entry in the SME market, from start-up into a multi-channel operation across broker, direct-to-consumer, and partner distribution.
Prior to Admiral, David served as Head of Digital Trading at Aviva, accountable for the digitally traded P&L, underwriting portfolio, and delivering digital transformation across technology, broker propositions, and customer experience in the UK market.
David’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the specialist insurer, with his appointment set to support Ecclesiastical's growth ambitions and vision to become the UK’s most successful, trusted, and admired specialist insurer.
“I am delighted to welcome David to the Intermediary business.
“We have ambitious plans, which our schemes and partnerships business is a fundamental part of. To help us achieve those targets, we’re bringing in quality people with extensive experience to drive us forward - David’s addition is the latest to that group.
“His experience and record of success will be a fantastic addition to our team and will provide further impetus to the next phase of growth.”
“I’m delighted to be joining Ecclesiastical at such an exciting point in its journey.
“Its charitable purpose, specialist expertise, and values-led culture, as part of the Benefact Group, truly set it apart in our industry. It’s inspiring to join a business where commercial success supports charities and communities.
“There is a real opportunity to grow our Commercial Lines business across schemes, MGAs and partnerships, and I look forward to working with colleagues and broker partners to deliver the next phase of sustainable, long-term growth.”
David joins the business in January 2026, replacing Chris Withers, who left in November following 10 years with Ecclesiastical.
His appointment reflects Ecclesiastical commitment to building a world-class team, as demonstrated by its market-leading employee engagement scores in the independently run B-Heard surveys.
Ecclesiastical, as part of the Benefact Group, achieved a UK three-star ‘world-class’ engagement accreditation in 2025. Alongside its parent company, Benefact Group, it was ranked number 4 in the ‘Best Big Companies to Work For’ category and secured second place in the Insurance sector category.
As a charity-owned business with a unique purpose to contribute to the greater good, Ecclesiastical continues to attract top talent seeking both a rewarding career and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Recent high-profile hires, including James Medlicott as Casualty Director from HDI Global, Anna Stratton from Allianz Partners joining as UKGI Finance Director, reflect this appeal.
The organisation’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment ensures colleagues feel valued and respected, contributing to its strong Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and reputation for excellent service.
Ecclesiastical mission is to grow its business to give more to good causes. By providing life-changing careers that change lives, the company reinforces its status as a destination employer where talented professionals come together to make a difference. challenging what it means to work in financial services through our unique purpose.