Crewe-based health insurance agency Health Shield Friendly Society has appointed Jacqui Carr as chief executive, replacing Geoff Spencer who was appointed interim chief executive after Courtney Marsh stepped down last July, Laing Buisson has reported.

Carr is an experienced HR consultant who has worked with Health Shield for a number of years.

Carr said: “It’s an honour to be appointed CEO of Health Shield; a society with a long and enviable history, grounded in its strong mutual ethos, an ethos that is arguably more relevant than ever to our members. I’m really excited to be given the opportunity to lead the business, particularly to help engage our amazing workforce in our strategic plans, that will help to meet the ever-evolving needs of the society’s members, guided by our promise to keep businesses and their employees in the best of health.”

Health Shield Friendly Society also appointed Paul Shires as commercial director. He has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, including managing director of UK healthcare at Westfield Health and head of partnerships at Cigna.