Tech giant LifeSearch has made a new appointment, introducing a fresh Chief Information Officer (CIO) to spearhead the company's technological evolution.

LifeSearch, a leading UK protection specialist, has announced the appointment of Chris Payne as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO). Payne joins LifeSearch from Blakestone Consulting Ltd. and brings with him a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, spanning over 28 years.

In his new role, Payne will lead the reshaping of LifeSearch's tech architecture, with the goal of enabling the business to launch new propositions to customers faster with more flexibility and customisation. His vision is to realise the full value of tech delivery and power the potential of LifeSearch's teams, partners, and customers.

Chris Payne's track record includes delivering large-scale digital transformation programmes and building next-generation insurance platforms. He has also demonstrated expertise in scaling a start-up business and harnessing technology more effectively to deliver greater speed, flexibility, and innovation in the protection industry.

Debbie Kennedy, CEO at LifeSearch, believes that Payne's experience will be instrumental in delivering LifeSearch's PoweredBy LifeSearch strategy. She stated, "Chris's expertise will be central to the future development of LifeSearch's technology strategy, and his appointment is crucial in cementing LifeSearch's position as an innovative leader of embedded protection solutions."

Payne's role is not just limited to leading the tech team. He will optimise the business' delivery approach to help implement new ways of working and technology use across teams. His experience in modernising technology estates and embedding agile, product-led operating models will be instrumental in LifeSearch's next phase of growth.

Chris Payne has a proven history of building digital customer journeys in the insurance industry. Prior to joining LifeSearch, he held senior roles at Aviva's UK Digital Business and served as Chief Information & Technology Officer at Abacai. He also previously worked at Blakestone Consulting Ltd.

Payne's goal is to enable LifeSearch to adapt quickly to market changes and customer needs, providing them with the best possible protection solutions. His appointment is expected to drive LifeSearch's growth and solidify its position as a leading player in the UK protection industry.