Income protection specialist, Cirencester Friendly, has appointed Andy Morris as its new CEO.

The appointment follows an extensive seven-month search and thorough selection process.

Andy will take up the position on the planned retirement of Paul Hudson, who has been the society's CEO since 1997.

Paul oversaw the successful expansion of the society to meet the ever-changing needs of its members, with membership growing from 13,000 in 1997 to more than 44,000 today. During his tenure, total assets increased from £23m to over £165m and premium income grew from £2m to over £21m.

Andy is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants with more than 25 years' experience across financial services, holding senior positions within Nationwide, RBS and Leek United Building Society. He joined Cirencester Friendly as finance director in April 2019. The society is now searching for a new finance director.

Paul Hudson, chief executive at Cirencester Friendly, said: "I am very proud of what we have managed to achieve since I arrived back in 1997. I have been lucky enough to have worked alongside very many fantastic people, who have shared my vision to deliver great protection products to many tens of thousands of customers.

"It has been a real team effort at Cirencester Friendly and we are a very different business to the one I joined all those years ago, but continue to embrace the customer-centric mutual ideals on which we were founded back in 1890.

"I leave a wonderfully capable group of people and I am confident the society will continue to prosper in the years to come."

Andy Morris said: "It is an honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead Cirencester Friendly on the next stage of its journey. I am a passionate believer in mutuality and all that the society can offer to our members, with a really exciting and rewarding time ahead, as we look to further develop and grow the business.

"My thanks to the board, our exceptional people and especially Paul, for all his hard work and commitment, setting up a robust foundation from which we can look forward to the society's long-term future with optimism and confidence."