Anthony Hughes Commences Work With The CHO

Insurance industry veteran Anthony Hughes has been appointed chairman and chief executive of the Credit Hire Organisation (CHO), the trade body for the UK credit hire industry.

Anthony replaces Peter Gomes, who has retired, and starts his new role today (1 August). Lucy Woods, the current chairman, will step back after completing her two years as chair, though she will still remain on the CHO strategic board.

Members of the CHO provide mobility to hundreds of thousands of customers each year following a road traffic accident. The industry achieves revenues of £1bn and employs circa 6,000 people. The majority of credit hire customers are referred to CHCs by insurer partners.

Lucy Woods, chairman of the CHO strategic board, said: “Anthony is a seasoned executive with extensive experience of the insurance industry.”

“He has the experience and all round knowledge to lead the CHO through the current challenging operating environment, ensuring that the interests of our members are fully represented at all levels, including in the media, government and among other industry stakeholders.”

Antony Hughes said: “I am looking forward to bringing to the organisation my commercial experience and expertise as well as my understanding of having worked or represented the insurance sector since the early 1990s.”

“My career has  given me the ability to understand both sides of the argument having also been a director of a company in the accident management sector.”

He added: “Insurers and credit hire companies are both challenged by the current crisis in the motor supply chain, which threatens to increase frictional costs. I am keen to ensure that we look for areas of common ground to resolve any differences. Working together to reduce friction is key to ensuring customers can access mobility from our members when they need it.”

Lucy Woods said: “I want to thank Peter [Gomes] for his stewardship of the CHO through a period of significant transition, as the industry emerged from the pandemic, and on behalf of all our members wish him the very best for his retirement.”

About Anthony Hughes

Anthony is a non-executive director at Financial & Legal Ltd and MSL Ltd, part of the Drive Further Collective. He has also been a long term non-executive legal director at Preston North end FC. Prior to joining FLI/MSL, Anthony was COO at legal services firm Simpson Millar. He has held C-suite roles at Horwich Farrelly, DWF and Ricksons. He was also MD at his own consulting firm, Jackson Hughes, between 2014-2019.

Anthony is available to contact on anthony.hughes@thecho.co.uk