Insurance United Against Dementia Pro Bono Chair Recruitment

Damhurst is delighted to offer its services and expertise on a pro bono basis to the organisations and causes uniting the insurance market. For 2025, we were honoured to work with Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) to lead the search for a new Chair at a pivotal juncture in its campaign. With the landmark milestone of £10m raised, the incoming Chair will be responsible for the next phase of ambitious new targets.

Through a rigorous research process, followed by structured interviews and assessment, Damhurst partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society and IUAD’s current board to appoint a highly respected and qualified Chair in less than three months.

A campaign of the Alzheimer’s Society, IUAD champions vital research and awareness initiatives in pursuit of better care and a cure. With over 900,000 individuals living with dementia in the UK, IUAD corrals the UK insurance market to provide support to those affected. From direct financial support to changing the industry’s interaction with those affected by the disease, IUAD has been at the forefront of a shift towards dedicating insurance resources to vital support services and groundbreaking research.

Outgoing IUAD Chair Richard Dudley set an impressive precedent of achieving ambitious goals while uniting senior market figures to confront the devastation caused by dementia. The new Chair will be expected to collaborate with senior stakeholders across the insurance market and set an ambitious strategy for IUAD’s next chapter.

Damhurst’s extensive network of senior executive leadership and board members within the insurance market meant we were well placed to assist.

Mapping our current network, Damhurst began identifying suitable candidates with extensive market connections. Our consultants contacted those aligned with the cause to understand the needs, demands and aspirations of IUAD as it embarks on its next chapter. With this understanding, Damhurst was well positioned to consider individuals in the market that were both new talent and high-potential contributors to the cause.

Damhurst’s research and delivery team conducted virtual conversations with those in our network to identify those who had a connection to, and a passion for, dementia support, as well as their own networks within the market. This included a robust referral system to identify other highly relevant profiles in the market. The process involved approximately forty conversations, all of which were centred on the work undertaken by IUAD and who, as a result, would be best placed to lead the campaign in the future.

Assessing board fit, capacity and professional background, we identified 14 experienced candidates with a connection to the dementia cause to present to the nomination committee.

This longlist of candidates comprised a diverse mix of insurance professionals from broking, underwriting and reinsurance in both the life and non-life sectors, with 30% female representation. As well as presenting our market findings and key themes, we defined three ‘avenues’ for how IUAD could review the longlist and determine their choice of leader for the next phase of growth.

From the longlist, four candidates were selected for assessment.

Damhurst invited selected candidates to interview, providing each with a comprehensive role profile outlining IUAD’s mission, past achievements and the opportunities that lie ahead for the campaign. The document also clearly defined the core responsibilities of the role, along with the experience and competencies expected of the incoming Chair.

Damhurst supported the IUAD’s Nomination Committee with a structured interview agenda and detailed candidate appraisals evaluating the individual’s alignment with the cause and their suitability for the role. Working with the candidates, Damhurst identified areas for discussion facilitating engaging conversations. With representatives from both Alzheimer’s Society and IUAD’s Board, populated with insurance professionals from the life and non-life sectors, a well-rounded interview process was developed, focusing on softer skills including leadership and stakeholder management.

Following Damhurst’s assessment and conversations with IUAD, the nomination committee approved the appointment of a standout candidate to assume the role of Chair.

The recruitment process was completed within 90 days, meeting the deadlines of planned board meetings where strategy goals were being aligned. Damhurst delivered a high-calibre candidate in a timely and informed manner, easing the pressure on IUAD to carry out their own search and allowing them to remain focussed on delivering against their targets of promoting support, care and research for the UK’s deadliest disease.

‘We are incredibly grateful to Damhurst for their generous support in helping us appoint the new Chair of Insurance United Against Dementia. Their deep understanding of the insurance market, combined with a thorough and thoughtful search process, meant we were able to identify and secure a truly exceptional candidate within three months. We are in no doubt that we would not have achieved such a strong outcome without their expertise.

The team’s commitment, professionalism and collaborative approach gave us complete confidence at every stage and ensured we found someone with the experience, credibility and passion to lead IUAD into its next chapter. We couldn’t be more delighted and are incredibly appreciative of Damhurst’s support during this pivotal moment for the campaign.’

– Charlotte Matier, Associate Director of High Value Fundraising, Alzheimer’s Society