Lancashire announces senior management and underwriting appointments

Lancashire Holdings has announced a series of senior management changes, with the upcoming retirements of John Spence, CEO of Lancashire Syndicates, and Hayley Johnston, CEO of Lancashire Insurance Company in Bermuda, both planned for the first quarter of 2026.

John Spence will be succeeded by Rachel Sabbarton (pictured, right), currently chief underwriting officer at Lancashire Insurance Company (UK). Jennifer Wilson (pictured left of Rachel), group financial planning and analysis director, will take over from Hayley Johnston in Bermuda.

Sabbarton joined Lancashire as group head of marine, energy and specialty insurance, before being promoted to CUO of the UK entity in April 2025. She will retain oversight of marine, energy and specialty insurance classes in her new role.

Wilson has been with Lancashire since 2010, progressing from project accountant to financial planning and analysis manager, then to chief financial officer of the Bermuda carrier in 2014. She was appointed group financial planning and analysis director in May 2024, a position she will continue to hold.

Matthew Thomas will succeed Sabbarton as CUO of Lancashire Insurance Company (UK), while remaining active underwriter and CUO of the Lancashire syndicates.

Colette Murphy becomes deputy CUO of the UK company and will also take over as group head of property D&F, replacing Matthew Narbett following his promotion to deputy group CUO.

Tom Sutton has been named deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 2010 and David Chalk as deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 3010. Sutton and Chalk will continue in their current roles in the treaty and construction teams, respectively.

Jon Barnes will assume Hayley Johnston’s responsibilities as reinsurance manager alongside his position as group underwriting director.

The appointments of Sutton, Chalk and Murphy take immediate effect. Those of Thomas, Sabbarton and Wilson will become effective in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Group chief executive officer Alex Maloney said: “John and Hayley have had long and distinguished careers at Lancashire and I would like to thank them for their support, wise counsel and friendship. They have both been fantastic ambassadors for Lancashire in their respective markets and have played important roles as senior leaders as the group has grown over the past few years.

“I am particularly pleased that, once again, we have been able to promote people from within Lancashire to succeed them in these two important management positions. Along with the other appointments we are announcing today, it shows the depth of expertise and talent that we have across the Lancashire Group.”