Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of UK...

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers.


Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide.

Collinson’s Insurance Group operates globally but has a concentration of revenue in The UK and Europe in the UK our Insurance & Intermediary entities are Astrenska Insurance Limited (AIL) and Collinson Insurance Services Limited (CISL).

We deliver innovative insurance solutions in our chosen segments to protect the personal wellbeing and possessions of our customers’ customers. We are predominantly a ‘white-label’ affinity distribution specialist enjoying high B2B client regard working with sophisticated affinity partners offering niche insurance products and services.

It is key to our strategy that we continue to develop and evolve our culture to keep a clear focus on our customer’s needs and challenge ourselves to make sure that we keep “Doing the Right Thing” in line with our corporate values. In addition, given our compelling value proposition to accompany this, our focus is to take action to generate additional commercial value and leverage our scale to drive efficiencies in our overall expense base.

Our major product lines are Travel Insurance, Private Medical & Dental Insurance, and other specialty products including Gadget, Warranties, and Home and Motor ancillary and Smart Delay.

Purpose of the job

Collinson Insurance Group is an innovative, selectively global insurance business that delivers quality products and services to our partners and customers through interaction with Group companies and long term third-party relationships.

Insurance business strategy

• Continue to be the best in the markets we lead and operate in. We are one of the UK’s leading Travel Insurers and growing our Travel Insurance presence in Europe, we lead the Dental Insurance market in Ireland and the Direct-to-Consumer market in Italy with our Columbus brand

• Stay customer-focused, efficient, and profitable, targeting 20% annual growth

• Grow internationally by leveraging UK experience and forming strong insurer partnerships

• Use our pricing expertise to drive smart growth

• Build a high-performing, accountable culture

• Strengthen client relationships through clear value propositions

• Explore strategic M&A opportunities

As Chair of the Board, you’ll bring an independent perspective to guide our strategy and support the executive team in achieving business goals. You'll ensure good governance, oversee risk and financial controls, and contribute to key decisions.

This is a critical leadership role helping shape a thriving insurance business for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the formulation of the Insurance company’s strategic vision and oversight. Help shape the long-term strategy and vision for AIL and CISL.
• To be Chair of the Board and its Remuneration Committee (SMF 9 & SMF 12).
• Hold management accountable for performance, offering both support and constructive challenge to continue to drive success.
• Uphold high standards of integrity, promoting the right culture, values, and behaviours across the business.
• Build strong relationships with key leaders in Finance, Risk, Audit, and Compliance, staying well-informed beyond board reports.
• Champion Consumer value, ensuring all senior leaders uphold its principles.
• Stay alert to external risks and opportunities, helping the business prepare ahead of time.
• Provide independent oversight and raise concerns when needed.
• Collaborate with parent company directors to align strategy and maximise value.
• Maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders like auditors, ensuring the business operates safely within its risk framework.

Board Responsibilities:

• Lead the company with entrepreneurial spirit, supported by strong risk controls.
• Set strategy, allocate resources, and review management’s performance.
• Define the company’s values and ensure it meets the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders.

Regulatory Responsibilities

• Follow the FCA’s Conduct Rules and the company’s Code of Conduct.

• Complete all required regulatory training and comply with relevant company policies.

• Report any conflicts of interest immediately, in line with company policy.

• Meet the company’s fit and proper standards at all times, including:

• Acting with honesty and integrity, Demonstrating competence and capability and maintaining financial soundness

• This role requires prior approval from the FCA/PRA and is subject to regulatory references from the past 6 years.

• Ensure you r FCA Statement of Responsibilities is always accurate and up to date.

• Maintain accountability for all activities under your role and act in the best interests of the firm and its customers.

• Comply with the FCA Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required

• Significant experience of chief executive officer roles in one or more organisations
• Independent Non-Executive experience in Insurance, ideally personal lines with affinity distribution channel experience
• Financial acumen
• Customer-centric, commercial and digitally focused with direct experience or oversight of transformation
• Commitment to ethical business practices and social responsibility.
• Be able to strike the right balance of governance and risk advocacy
• Enjoy working within an entrepreneurial, agile culture
• Be an active contributor with a constructive challenger mind set
• Be pragmatic over principled
• Have experience of strategic challenge whilst being able to build consensus with a broad range of stakeholders
• Extensive network within the Insurance/Financial Services sectors
• Experience of M&A
• International experience within Europe and operates with a global outlook

Time Commitment

The role will typically require a commitment of approximately 26 days’ work annually, largely attending board meetings, additional committee meetings and preparing for meetings. From time to time there will be a requirement to participate in specific ad hoc events such as strategy development days.

We would expect the Chair of the BOD to be both flexible and accessible as matters for the board arise from time to time outside of the calendar of scheduled meetings

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.

We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us at [email protected]