Hiscox gets new group chief marketing officer after global search

Specialist global insurer Hiscox has promoted Russ Findlay to group chief marketing officer (CMO), following an internal and external global search.

Findlay has been with Hiscox since 2013, and most recently served as chief marketing officer Hiscox USA. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of marketing for IHOP, chief marketing officer for Major League Soccer and vice president of marketing for PepsiCo.

In his new role, Russ will be responsible for Hiscox’s global marketing and brand-building activity, with a particular focus on its key retail markets across the UK, mainland Europe and the USA.

He will report to Ben Walter, chief executive officer of Hiscox Global Retail, and succeed Steve Langan, who will now focus solely on his role as chief executive officer of Hiscox USA.

Walter commented: “When Steve joined Hiscox 14 years ago, he established the company’s first fully integrated marketing department. Building a brand takes time, but thanks to his energy and expertise we now have not only an internationally recognised brand but also a world-class marketing team. Given the substantial growth of Hiscox in the US and resulting demands of the two roles, Steve has decided to step down as Group CMO so he can focus 100% on leading our US endeavors, and Russ is an excellent candidate to step into the role.

He added: "Russ has done an extraordinary job transforming Hiscox USA’s marketing program and elevating the brand to become synonymous with small business insurance in the US. I’m excited that the rest of the Hiscox Group will now benefit from his creativity and leadership as Group CMO and look forward to his marketing leadership as we embark on our next phase of growth.”

Findlay added: “Hiscox USA has become a leading business insurance provider in a relatively short space of time, and I’m proud to have contributed to its journey so far. Now I’m looking forward to working with all of our operating regions around the world to find new ways to share our unique story with our customers, brokers and partners.”