The London P&I Club has announced that Ian Gooch will be stepping down during the year from the role of Chief Executive Officer after 15 years as CEO and 21 years as a Director of A.Bilbrough & Co., the Company that manages The London P&I Club, a marine mutual liability insurer in the United Kingdom providing Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance for the global shipping industry.
Subject to regulatory approval, Ian Gooch will be succeeded by James Bean, from NorthStandard P&I Club. A qualified Solicitor, James Bean has worked within the marine insurance industry since 2005 and was appointed to the NorthStandard’s senior leadership team in February 2023. Before that, he was the Group Managing Director at the Standard Club.
To ensure an orderly transition, Ian Gooch will continue as a member of the A Bilbrough & Co. team, providing support to the new CEO and the senior management team.
“Having served The London P&I Club and Bilbrough for over two decades, I am very proud of what our team has accomplished. After such a tenure, following a strong renewals season and the Club’s positive trajectory, I feel the time is right to step aside. I am confident that the Club will continue its growth as an independent mutual marine insurance provider under James’ leadership and that he will bring new perspectives and opportunities to evolve. He is exceptionally experienced and brings a deep industry knowledge, a proven track-record of success and a shared appreciation of the values of the Club,” stated Ian Gooch.
James Bean commented, “It is a real privilege to take this next step in my career and join The London P&I Club at an exciting time for the company. I look forward to working closely with the Club’s Board of Directors, Members’ Committee and Management group, as well as its Members and Assureds. On a personal level, I greatly valued all of my time at NorthStandard and the opportunities and experiences afforded to me over the past 19 years and I would like to thank everyone for their continued support.”
Chairman of the London P&I Club, John M Lyras, said, “I am delighted to welcome James to the Club. He has first-rate credentials with extensive industry experience, and he will have all the support he may need from the Board, Members’ Committee and our Membership for his new role. I am pleased to say that Ian will remain involved with us, supporting James and the team in continuing to deliver the highest standards of service for the Club and increasing our Membership, in line with our strategic goals.”
