RSA announces changes to its leadership team as it steps up customer and outperformance ambitions
RSA has announced changes to its UK senior leadership team and a new structure bringing customer operations and claims together to create a single function dedicated to supporting customers and brokers throughout their journey with RSA.
Karl Helgesen*, currently Chief Claims Officer, will lead the new function as Chief Operating Officer. Existing Chief Operating Officer Louisa Leonard* will take over as Managing Director of RSA’s Personal Lines businesses ahead of the retirement of current MD Kay Martin later this year.
Commenting on these changes, CEO of RSA UK & International, Ken Norgrove, said:
“RSA is transformed from the business we were a few years ago, and I’m proud that today we are strong, profitable and ambitious for growth in our chosen markets. Closer alignment of our customer-focused functions will help the next phase of our progression to outperformance – and I’m pleased that Karl is taking on an expanded role.
“I’m equally delighted that Louisa will be leading Personal Lines on the next phase of its journey. Louisa has worked across every part of our business, driving significant operational gains and improvements for our customers, and helping us to continually challenge and improve our culture. Louisa is a brilliant example of how great careers can be built at RSA.
“Kay has had an incredibly successful career and is widely known and respected throughout the industry. While all at RSA will be sorry to see her leave us, we have been fortunate to benefit from the wise and considered leadership she’s brought to the executive team over the last three years, and specifically the strides she has made to turn around the Personal Lines business. There will be plenty of time for farewells and celebrations over the next few months but I want to add a heartfelt thank you to Kay in the meantime.
“I’m excited for RSA’s next chapter where we will build on the strong foundations now in place to push towards outperformance, underpinned by an ever-greater focus on our customers.”
Karl Helgesen biography:
Karl joined RSA in April 2017 as Chief Claims Officer. Prior to this, Karl has held a number of senior positions at Aviva and Zurich in various disciplines including Finance, Account Management, Underwriting and Claims. Karl’s last role at Zurich before joining RSA was that of UK Chief Claims Officer.
Karl is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurer. Karl is also a Board member of RSA’s business in Ireland, the Motor Insurers Bureau and Chair of the Insurance Fraud Bureau.
Louisa Leonard biography:
Louisa joined RSA in 2000 as a graduate trainee and has held senior leadership roles in strategy, claims, operations, and risk across RSA’s UK and global businesses, including four years in RSA’s Canadian business as Chief Risk Officer and latterly Chief Operating Officer for their successful retail brand, Johnson.
Upon her return to the UK in 2019 she was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the UK & International business, responsible for Personal and Commercial Lines operations, shared services, customer conduct and operational risk, procurement, facilities and change.
Louisa is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurer, and holds an MBA from The Open University Business School.
*Subject to regulatory approval
