Open GI, a leading provider of technology solutions to the insurance industry, announced today that it has appointed James Barnard as Group CEO, effective over the course of H2 2026. As part of this planned transition, Simon Badley will transition from Group CEO to support the business in an advisory capacity.

James is a highly regarded leader with over 25 years of industry experience and technology insight, and a bold vision for the future of Open GI. He has a strong track record of driving transformative growth and leading scaled teams in the insurance industry. As the new Group CEO, James is set to accelerate growth and redefine what’s possible in insurance technology.

He joins Open GI from Aviva General Insurance, where he most recently served as its COO, leading a team of over 1,500, accountable for Technology, Transformation and Change Delivery of the largest general insurance business in the UK. He previously held numerous senior roles of increasing responsibility within the broader Aviva business. Prior to re-joining Aviva in 2021, he served at the Ardonagh Group, latterly as COO leading the CIO, CISO, Transformation and other key operational functions. Earlier, he served as Chief Transformation & Change Officer at Towergate Insurance prior to the formation of the Ardonagh Group.

The leadership transition comes as Open GI enters its next chapter of growth, having secured new capital from its majority shareholder in 2025 and initiated a strategic plan focused on offering advanced technology solutions, talent acquisition and development, and superior customer service. James joins Open GI following other senior appointments, including at the CPTO and CFO levels, for this new phase.

Peter Thompson, Chair of Open GI, said: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome James, a highly regarded and proven leader, to Open GI following a robust search process. With deep sector expertise and a strong background in technological transformation and talent development, James is well-positioned to lead Open GI through its exciting new chapter of growth focused on R&D, Data, GenAI, People, and our customers. We look forward to working closely with him.

“At the same time, we wish to thank Simon for his invaluable contributions over the years and look forward to a continued partnership in his new capacity as an advisor.”

James Barnard said: “I am thrilled to join Open GI, a company I have long admired, at such a pivotal and exciting time in its growth journey. Open GI benefits from a strong suite of technological capabilities, a loyal and quality customer base, and an experienced leadership team. As the sector continues to evolve rapidly, Open GI is on a strong footing to capitalise on the opportunity set and solidify its market leadership. I look forward to working closely with the team to accelerate the company’s momentum.”

Simon Badley added: “I’m proud of what we’ve built at Open GI, particularly the progress we’ve made in strengthening our foundations and setting a clear direction for the future.

This is the right time for me to step back and for the business to move forward with leadership focused on that next chapter. I’m pleased to continue supporting Open GI in an advisory capacity and look forward to working with James as he takes the business to the next level.”