AIRMIC unveils new CEO as Graham to step down

The Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce (Airmic) has revealed that Julia Graham is to step down from her role as chief executive of Airmic, with effect from April 2026.

She will be succeeded by business and risk management consultant, Diane Maxwell. 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.

In statement Airmic said that during her tenure at Airmic Graham 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 chief executive 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 chief executive Designate before taking over as chief executive in April.

Graham was appointed as chief executive of the association for risk and insurance professionals, in April 2021. 

She is a former chair of both Airmic and FERMA, the Federation of European Risk Management Associations.

Prior to assuming the CEO role, she served as deputy chief executive and technical director of Airmic since October 2015.

She has more than 35 years’ experience in senior risk management and insurance positions, including serving as director of risk management and insurance at a global law firm and 30 years in the insurance sector.

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