Bill Paton, Zurich Financial Services chief claims officer has been appointed to the role of chairman at Thatcham.

Paton will chair a board drawn from representatives of Thatcham’s 34 members all of whom are major UK motor insurers and who fund the Centre’s research programme with a combined levy payment of £7.8 million.

“I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the centre’s technicians to build on their expertise and to increase the benefits derived from this independent source, who set standards and raise skills with new and innovate solutions in so many different automotive spheres,” said Paton.

Peter Roberts, Thatcham chief executive, said: “Bill has been a member of the Thatcham board for over 2 years, and brings with him a wealth of experience of the insurance and automotive sectors.”