Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) is entering a new chapter in its mission to combat dementia, following the appointment of Chris Lay, CEO of Marsh McLennan UK, as the campaign’s new chair.
The leadership transition marks a significant milestone for IUAD, which recently achieved its initial £10 million fundraising goal. The funds have supported a wide range of dementia-focused initiatives delivered in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society.
Lay steps into the role as the campaign aims to sustain strong industry engagement while expanding its contribution to cutting-edge dementia research. His appointment comes amid notable advancements in the field, including the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) approval of two Alzheimer’s drugs in late 2024, both shown to slow disease progression.
Since its inception in 2017, IUAD has united over 140 insurance-related organisations, funded 158 researchers, and supported advancements in dementia diagnosis, care, and treatment. Notable initiatives include backing Alzheimer’s Society programmes such as the Companion Calls service, which has delivered more than 140,000 phone calls to over 5,000 individuals affected by dementia.
“Now is the time for our industry to double down, building on this momentum and continuing to drive meaningful change for the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK,” Lay said.
Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) is entering its next phase with a renewed focus on sustaining existing partnerships and forging new alliances across the insurance sector. The campaign board emphasized that continued support is vital to fund critical research and broaden care options for the nearly one million people in the UK currently living with dementia.
