The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has strengthened its board with the appointment of two senior insurance executives, drawing expertise from the mutual insurance and bulk annuity sectors. In a separate industry move, independent Lloyd’s broker ATL has expanded its specialty division by appointing a new director of financial lines.
Jim Islam joins ABI board
Jim Islam, chief executive of OneFamily Group, has joined the ABI board with immediate effect. He has led OneFamily since December 2023 after previously serving as the group’s chief financial officer. A qualified actuary, Islam brings more than 26 years of board-level experience spanning insurance, investment management, pensions, and savings.
His appointment provides the ABI board with direct representation from the mutual and friendly society sector, which continues to face unique regulatory and capital challenges compared with listed insurers. The ABI board is responsible for guiding the industry’s approach to key political, regulatory, and consumer issues while shaping the organisation’s strategic priorities. Islam’s experience is expected to strengthen discussions around governance, capital treatment, and policyholder value from a mutual-sector perspective.
Pretty Sagoo appointed to ABI board
Pretty Sagoo, interim chief executive of Just Group, has also been appointed to the ABI board with immediate effect. She assumed the interim CEO role in April following the completion of Brookfield Wealth Solutions’ acquisition of the pension risk transfer specialist, succeeding David Richardson.
Sagoo has more than two decades of experience in financial services. Before becoming interim CEO, she led Just Group’s defined benefit de-risking business and previously held senior positions at Athora, Legal & General, and Deutsche Bank.
Her appointment adds significant expertise in the pension risk transfer (PRT) market to the ABI board. The UK PRT sector has experienced exceptionally strong bulk annuity activity in 2024 and 2025 as defined benefit pension schemes accelerated de-risking strategies. With regulatory capital requirements and continued market expansion remaining key policy issues, Sagoo’s experience is expected to contribute valuable insight to the board’s strategic discussions.
ATL appoints Javier Fernandez
Separately, independent Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance broker ATL has appointed Javier Fernandez as director of financial lines, a newly created position designed to strengthen the firm’s FINPRO and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) capabilities.
Fernandez brings more than 20 years of insurance industry experience across broking, financial lines, and M&A. He spent over five years in the London market with Willis Towers Watson and Aon, focusing on financial lines business across Latin America and Western Europe. Most recently, he served as head of FINPRO and M&A at Spanish broker Asterra Partners, where he played a key role in expanding the company’s presence in the Spanish market.
In his new role, Fernandez will lead ATL’s FINPRO and M&A practice while supporting the continued growth of its Specialty division. He will also focus on expanding the firm’s presence in strategic markets, including Spain, while working with clients across international markets.
