The Chartered Insurance Institute has appointed Legal Services Board chief executive Matthew Hill as its new group chief executive, joining in April.

He will replace Alan Vallance who left the troubled organisation at the end of December, three months earlier than planned.

Mr Vallance resigned from the CII in October after just over a year in the role to become the new chief executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

He was scheduled to work a six month notice period at the CII before leaving for the ICAEW but left in December with Gill White stepping up to be acting chief executive. She will continue in that role until Mr Hill's arrival.

The CII has been embroiled in a year-long row with its Financial Planning subsidiary the Personal Finance Society over governance and finances. The row has resulted in a number of resignations from the PFS, including newly-elected President Caroline Stuart and several PFS board members.

In December the interim chair of the PFS, Andy Briscoe, also quit the board after only six months although his reasons were understood not be connected to the PFS/CII row.

Former CII CEO Sian Fisher resigned in October 2021 following a row about the axing of the PFS CEO role. The PFS role was later reinstated.

Mr Hill has been at the Legal Services Board since August 2019 where, according to the LSB annual report, his salary package was worth between £170,000 and £175,000.

His background includes spells with the General Dental Council and Gambling Commission, following more than 20 years in central government in a range of areas. In the Civil Service his briefs included food safety, animal health, alcohol, civil contingencies, broadcasting, gambling, creative industries and healthcare regulation.

Dr Helen Phillips, chair of the CII Group Board and also chair of the Legal Services Board, said: “Matthew brings a vast breadth of experience from a twenty-year career in the Civil Service and his current position as chief executive of the Legal Services Board.

"The CII group board is convinced that his leadership will enable the CII Group to achieve the goals and ambitions set out in our five-year strategic plan launched last year."

Mr Hill said: “I have been very impressed by the CII’s intent to provide first-rate sector leadership on behalf of its committed and passionate membership. I will do everything I can to help it achieve those goals.”