Professional services firm announces Baroness Helena Morrissey as non-executive chair
Barnett Waddingham (BW) has appointed Baroness Helena Morrissey as non-executive chair of its management board, effective from January 1, 2025.
As chair she will be responsible for providing independent oversight of the firm’s strategy and governance, while ensuring the board maintains the highest standards of decision-making and accountability. She will work with senior partner Andrew Vaughan and four new managing partners.
Baroness Morrissey brings an abundance of experience to the role, including a 15-year tenure as CEO of Newton Investment Management, where she successfully grew assets under management from £20 billion to £50 billion. She currently chairs the boards of Fidelis Insurance Group and Altum Group and has previously held a number of other non-executive roles, including chair of the Investment Association from 2014 to 2017.
She famously founded the 30% club in 2010, which has been instrumental in promoting gender-balanced boards, and currently chairs the Diversity Project, of which BW is a member. As a result of her work, Helena was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to diversity in financial services.
She takes over the non-executive chair position from Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames, who leaves the role after six years.
Morrissey said: “BW is a hugely exciting company. Its impressive growth ambitions, strong culture, and high calibre of people and talent set it apart as a truly leading consultancy. I look forward to working with Andrew and his team to build on the firm’s growth and evolution.”
Andrew Vaughan, senior partner at BW, said: “Our business is at an exciting moment, with evolution and growth core tenets of our future-proofed strategy. Helena, with her exceptional industry expertise and leadership skills, will be invaluable in helping us achieve our strategic ambitions.
“I offer all of our thanks to Elizabeth for her hard work and expertise over the last six years, a period defined by impressive growth against a backdrop of external challenges and an immense pace of change. Her unwavering commitment to doing the right thing helped us navigate those years while upholding a true partnership between our people, our services, and our clients.”
