Atlanta-based claims management firm Crawford & Company has appointed board member Michelle Jarrard as its new non-executive chair, the first woman to occupy the role in the company’s 80-year history.

Current Chairman Charles H. Ogburn will remain on the board and chair the Compensation Committee.

Ms Jarrard, who was elected to the Crawford board in August 2018, is a former senior partner of McKinsey & Company where she held multiple senior leadership roles during a 25-year career, finishing as global head of human resources from 2007 until early 2016.

Mr Ogburn says the appointment follows “the proud legacy of Virginia Crawford, the company’s first woman director, and adds to our pride and excitement”.

"Michelle’s intelligence, energy and determination are assets to our board,” he said.

Ms Jarrard is the CEO of BioCircuit Technologies and on the boards of Lazard and Inspire Brands. She was a Trustee of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for seven years and a Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation Board for five.

“Her expertise has been and will continue to be pivotal as we navigate the extraordinary challenges posed by the pandemic and strive to achieve our envisioned future,” CEO Rohit Verma said.

Mr Verma says he is proud the board is one of the most diverse in its sector, promoting innovation, collaboration and creativity.