Former finance director back to Hiscox

Specialty insurer Hiscox has appointed Paul Cooper as group chief financial officer, subject to regulatory approval. He will also join the Hiscox Ltd board.

His start date has yet to be confirmed. Liz Breeze will step in as interim group CFO from January.

Cooper joins from M&G Prudential, where he is deputy CFO and based in London. He has over 25 years of financial services experience and across both the retail and Lloyd’s insurance markets. Before M&G, he held senior roles at Lloyd’s insurer Canopius, where he was group CFO and CEO of the managing agency, and He was an insurance partner at Ernst & Young.

He has also worked for Hiscox before, serving as finance director from 2006 to 2011.

“The depth and breadth of Paul’s insurance knowledge make him a great addition to the executive team,” said Aki Hussain, Hiscox group CEO designate. “His broad commercial acumen as well as his audit, regulatory and capital markets experience will help us capture the many opportunities ahead. I am very pleased Paul is joining Hiscox and look forward to welcoming him back.”

Cooper said: “I am delighted to be returning to Hiscox. The group has a fantastic heritage and an exciting future. Market conditions are excellent, and there is significant opportunity for profitable growth in all of the group’s major markets. I look forward to building on this in the months and years ahead.”