Global insurance and reinsurance broking group Howden has announced the appointment of Nick Stace OBE to the newly created role of Chief Global Impact Officer, effective January 2026.
In his new role, Stas will lead and shape Howden’s strategy to build a more sustainable and resilient future for customers, employees and communities. He will report to Howden CEO David Howden CBE.
Stace joins Howden from Barclays Bank where she was responsible for the social mission and sustainable finance business for its UK branch. He also chairs the Prison Reform Trust, The Conduit and the government-backed small business Willow Review.
Prior to this, Stace was UK CEO of The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust), CEO of Saga Travel, founder of three youth charities and a board member of the Financial Conduct Authority and the National Trust.
Rowan Douglas, who has led Howden’s risk and resilience team since June 2023 and played a key role in advancing the company’s climate risk and resilience proposition, has decided to leave the company to pursue new challenges. He will continue to serve as a key advisor to Howden and will work with the company on future projects.
David Howden commented: “Our aim is to be a force for good for our customers, our people and the communities where we live and work, which is part of our 2030 At the heart of our vision. Over the past five years, we have made significant progress to become a recognized leader in our field. We develop world-class products for our customers and place insurance firmly on the global climate agenda. We make the most advanced insurance and risk management solutions accessible to the most vulnerable, whether through the launch of Humanity Insurance in the joint insurance market or by expanding the impact of the Howden Foundation to help people build resilience against extreme heat.
“But we’ve only scratched the surface of insurance’s potential to drive positive change. I look forward to Nick helping us continue to push boundaries and change the way the world looks at risk and insurance.
“I’m grateful for Rowan’s leadership, which has paved the way for our future success. He has established Howden as a leading insurance voice on climate risk and resilience, and I’m pleased that he will continue to advise us as we look to further expand our global reach.”
Stace added: “Howden is leading the way in the insurance industry, demonstrating how insurance can be a catalyst for change and solve the biggest challenges of our time. I believe the insurance industry is now more important than ever to unlock investments and solutions at scale, both corporately and nationally. I can’t wait to join Howden and help lead the next chapter that will define the impact we can have around the world.”