"I am delighted to appoint Kirsty to this role and look forward to her helping shape the next phase of Vitality's development across our global markets."
- Neville Koopowitz - Vitality
Vitality has announced the appointment of Kirsty Leece as group chief risk officer (CRO), effective from this Thursday, 1st October 2026.
Kirsty joined Vitality in early 2021 as deputy CRO and was later appointed UK group, health and life insurance CRO. Her new role will see her responsibilities expand to include oversight of risk management across Vitality's wider international operations in the UK, US and Vitality Global markets.
Kirsty will lead development and execution of the Group's risk strategy, supporting the organisation's continued growth.
In addition to her role at Vitality, Kirsty serves as a member of the Risk and Audit Committee at the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
"Kirsty has made an exceptional contribution to Vitality since joining the business and has played a pivotal role in ensuring our risk framework supports both strong governance and strategic growth," Neville Koopowitz, group chief executive officer at Vitality, said.
READ MORE: The Exeter announces new head of healthcare development
"Kirsty combines deep technical expertise with a strong understanding of our business, our purpose and the markets in which we operate.
"As we continue to expand and evolve internationally, effective risk management remains fundamental to delivering sustainable growth and maintaining the trust of our customers, partners and regulators. I am delighted to appoint Kirsty to this role and look forward to her helping shape the next phase of Vitality's development across our global markets."
Kirsty Leece added: "Over the past five and a half years as UK Group CRO, I've had the privilege of leading a team that's done far more than manage risk; they've been a driving force behind our strategy, providing independent risk challenge, support and regulatory insight that underpin responsible growth.
"I'm delighted to welcome new colleagues to the global team, and to bring our corporate governance specialists into the division. Together, we're building a team with the scale and expertise to match Vitality's ambition - one that doesn't just support change but helps shape the meaningful impact we want to have on people's lives."
