The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is undertaking a full recruitment process to appoint a new Director General after Huw Evans announced he will depart in December.

Mr Evans, who has held the role since February 2015, is joining KPMG as a partner in its insurance practice from January next year. He joined the ABI in 2008 as Operations Director before becoming Director of Policy and Deputy Director General in 2013.

“It’s been a huge privilege to help lead the insurance and long-term savings sector but I am now in my seventh year as Director General and it feels the right time to be preparing to move on,” Mr Evans said.

“I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to stay in the sector and carry on helping it meet the fast-changing requirements of customers, regulators and our economy.”

Mr Evans implemented reinsurance scheme Flood Re and oversaw consumer initiatives such as the voluntary codes for vulnerable customers, mental health standards, pensions language simplification and COVID-19 customer pledges. He was also a key supporter of the Women in Finance charter.

“It has certainly not been a quiet term of office with Brexit, Solvency II implementation, pension freedoms, a pandemic and three general elections to help navigate,” he said.

“There is still plenty to do and I look forward to focusing on Solvency II reform, improving customer outcomes, general insurance pricing and developing our climate change roadmap in my remaining seven months.”

ABI Chair and Allianz Insurance CEO Jon Dye says the ABI’s member satisfaction and staff survey results have never been higher than under Mr Evans’ leadership.

Mr Evans is an “inspirational leader” and played a critical role in helping the sector navigate a hugely turbulent decade and “tackling seismic changes within the industry itself,” he said.