JULIA GRAHAM TO STEP DOWN AS CEO NEXT YEAR AS AIRMIC NAMES DIANE MAXWELL AS SUCCESSOR

Julia Graham is to step down from her role as chief executive of Airmic, with effect from April 2026, the Association announced today. She will be succeeded by business and risk management consultant, Diane Maxwell.

Graham will be retiring from Airmic after a high-profile and prestigious career with the Association, including five years as CEO, and five years as deputy CEO & technical director. She also served as chair of the Airmic Board of Directors.

During her tenure at Airmic she is widely credited with elevating the profile of the risk management profession and increasing the visibility of risk professionals at a board and strategic level. She also played an instrumental role in lobbying the government to introduce a captive-friendly regulatory regime in the UK, as announced by HM Treasury in July this year. Graham will continue supporting the Treasury and the PRA in shaping the UK captive domicile.

Airmic chairman, Richard Hoult, commented: “Julia’s energy, knowledge and passion for risk management have taken the Association to new levels. Under her leadership, we have grown our membership, expanded our educational offering and launched successful conferences in Ireland and Guernsey. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Julia for her service, and we are delighted she will continue at Airmic during the succession process.”

Graham said it has been an honour to represent the risk management profession: “I have loved every minute of my time as CEO but feel that, when my contract expires next year, the moment is right to pass the leadership baton on. I am very proud of all we have achieved as a small but highly talented team supported by a growing membership and group of partners. The risk management profession, championed by Airmic, has a bright and exciting future ahead of it. I will remain an active member of the profession and as an independent non-executive director of several captive insurance companies.”

Graham will continue as CEO during the transition period to the new leadership as part of a planned succession process. Maxwell will formally join the Association in November this year to work alongside Graham as CEO Designate before taking over as chief executive in April.

Maxwell joins Airmic on the back of an international career in financial services and risk management. She was CEO for six years at the NZ Retirement Commission, working closely with the financial services sector, government and regulators across pensions, savings and insurance products and public policy, and internationally on OECD steering groups supporting the G7 and G20 on financial resilience. She previously held an IFC regulatory role as executive director of policy and risk. Maxwell is currently a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Professional Standards Committee, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Financial Times Trust, a non-executive director, and consultant.

Hoult said he is delighted to welcome Diane to Airmic: “Her experience working in and with governments in public policy and regulation will be a huge asset to Airmic and support the Association’s lobbying and advocacy on behalf of our members. Her wealth of experience in financial services and risk management makes her perfectly placed to take Airmic into its next chapter of growth.”

Maxwell commented: “The current challenges and opportunities including geopolitics, climate, cyber and AI, make this a particularly interesting time for the risk and insurance professions, and for Airmic as it continues to advocate for and support businesses and individuals. Financial resilience has been the core theme of my career, and I am excited to be working with the Airmic team, Board and our stakeholders in such a critical role. I’m looking forward to meeting with partners and members and hearing more about what they need from us and what we can do for them."

If you would like to request an interview and/or have any further questions, please contact:

Media Contact: Leigh-Anne Slade
Head of Media, Communications and Interest Groups, Airmic
leigh-anne.slade@airmic.com
+44 7956 417877