Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre, has announced that Pierre Lefevre, chairman and chief at Groupama and a member of the ABI general insurance council, will take over from Andrew Torrance as chairman of the board.

Further changes to be confirmed in February will see Guy Munnock from Zurich and Jack Brownhill at Groupama stepping aside after five and three years respectively on the Thatcham board.

Additions to the board include Jon Dye of Allianz Cornhill, Nigel Fleet of Royal Sun Alliance and Bill Paton of Zurich.