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Ecclesiastical Insurance Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Strengthen UK Operations

By Lauren Towner · 21 July 2026

Press Release: Ecclesiastical Insurance Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Strengthen UK Operations | Featured Image by FF News

Quick Summary

Ecclesiastical Insurance has announced three senior leadership appointments within its UK General Insurance business. Helen Richards becomes Group Organisational Resilience Director, Jeremy Trott takes over as Church Operations Director, and Andrew Henner steps in as interim Claims Director. These Ecclesiastical Insurance leadership changes focus on internal talent development and operational resilience.

How is Ecclesiastical Insurance Strengthening Its UK Leadership?

The Ecclesiastical Insurance leadership team is evolving to prioritize internal talent development and deep industry expertise. By promoting from within, the firm ensures that its specialist insurance knowledge remains at the core of its operations. Helen Richards, who began as a graduate trainee in 2007, now leads the Group's resilience and regulatory objectives, demonstrating a clear path for long-term career growth within the organization.

  • 19 years of experience brought by Helen Richards to her new resilience role.
  • Five and a half years of claims leadership from Jeremy Trott prior to his new appointment.
  • Interim leadership continuity provided by Andrew Henner to maintain customer service standards.

What Do These Changes Mean for Church and Claims Operations?

Ecclesiastical is ensuring seamless service continuity for its core church customer base by appointing Jeremy Trott as Church Operations Director. Trott will leverage his extensive claims experience to enhance the direct operation portfolio. Meanwhile, Andrew Henner’s transition to interim Claims Director ensures that technical claims expertise remains a priority, focusing on excellent customer outcomes and maintaining the high standards the specialist insurer is known for.

How Does This Impact the Group's Resilience and Regulatory Goals?

The creation of the Group Organisational Resilience Director role highlights a strategic regulatory focus for the Benefact Group. Helen Richards will oversee critical resilience objectives, ensuring the business can navigate complex underwriting and operational challenges. This structural shift reinforces the company's ability to support long-standing customer portfolios while meeting modern governance and compliance requirements in the UK insurance market.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This reshuffle at Ecclesiastical Insurance proves that Ecclesiastical Insurance leadership is doubling down on institutional knowledge rather than looking outward. In a volatile insurance market, promoting a 19-year veteran like Helen Richards to a resilience role is a smart move that signals stability to regulators. While interim roles can sometimes cause friction, Henner’s deep technical background should keep the claims engine running smoothly without missing a beat.

Companies in this story: Benefact Group, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group

People in this story: Richard Coleman, Helen Richards, Jeremy Trott, Andrew Henner, Michael Angell

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