Just Group has appointed insurance veteran John Hastings-Bass as its new chair.

The firm says the decision to appoint the former BMS and Novae Group man follows “an extensive, industry wide recruitment process”. 

Just has been searching since March for a successor to Chris Gibson-Smith – the firm’s first ever chair – after announcing he would retire in March.

Gibson-Smith will step down as chair and as a non-executive director at close of business on 13 August, after Just’s financial results are released earlier that day.

Gibson-Smith says: “It has been an honour to chair Just since its creation. Having overseen a transformational merger, navigated significant regulatory change and overseen the appointment of a new team of executive directors, now is the right time for me to move on.”

Hastings-Bass says: “Just plays an important role in providing great financial products to help people achieve a better later life, and I am delighted to be part of realising this strategic ambition.”