US insurance charity opens London division

US-based nonprofit The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) has expanded its operations to the UK.

IICF’s newly-formed London division will provide grants, volunteer services, and leadership initiatives to the local community across the UK.

This is the first overseas expansion for IICF, which operates four regional divisions across the US and has contributed $23.5 million in grants and nearly 200,000 volunteer hours to local American communities since its inception in 1994.

Wendy Wilder will serve as the executive director of IICF’s London division. Wilder has previously served as head of strategy and planning for AIG UK and has held consulting roles at Ernst & Young, Charities Aid Foundation, and the Bangladesh-based CSR Centre.

“Our expansion into the US is a monumental occasion for the IICF, as well as for the entire insurance industry,” said Gary Petrosino, executive vice president at Chubb Group and chairman of IICF’s board of governors. “Our growth into the international community represents an important evolution in the insurance industry’s rich tradition of giving.”

Bill Ross, chief executive officer of IICF, added: “We are thrilled to launch our first international division with the support of an outstanding group of industry leaders.”