CII appoints chair of Professional Standards Board

David Hertzell, law commissioner for commercial and common law, will become the new independent chair of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Professional Standards Board (PSB), succeeding David McIntosh QC (Hon) who will complete his tenure at the end of this year.

The role of the PSB is to advise the CII board on the setting of standards for achievement of excellence and to offer guidance on CII Group member governance standards – including members of the Personal Finance Society ­– and also the CII’s internal governance standards.

Hertzell was appointed a Law Commissioner in 2007. Before joining the Law Commission he was managing partner at Davies Arnold Cooper Solicitors, where he began his legal career in 1981. He specialised in professional indemnity, reinsurance, captive insurance and regulatory issues. He is also vice president of the British Insurance Law Association amongst a number of other appointments.

“The CII has had a Professional Standards Board in place for more than 10 years and David McIntosh QC (Hon), who has been chair of the board for the last seven years, deserves particular recognition and gratitude for presiding over a more robust, rigorous and independent process than at any other equivalent professional body,” said Dr Sandy Scott, chief executive of the CII.

During McIntosh’s tenure, the CII has revised its Code, strengthened its independent disciplinary structure to become the largest FCA-approved accredited body for regulated advisers, provided support for the implementation of the Aldermanbury Declaration for general insurance, seen an increase in individual chartered members as well as launched the chartered firm concept.

Dr Scott continued: “I would also like to welcome David Hertzell as the new chair of the CII’s PSB from 2014. Under his leadership the CII group will continue to strive for market leading professional standards for the benefit of our members and the public alike.”

Commenting on his appointment, Hertzell said: “The last few years have seen professional standards in financial services under greater scrutiny than ever before, demonstrating how fundamentally important it is to have a robust oversight and disciplinary process and to maintain vigilance, anticipate and address public interest issues.

“It is an honour to be appointed as the new chair of the CII Professional Standards Board and I look forward to building on the strong foundations David McIntosh has put firmly in place.”