Cirencester Friendly has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of two new directors, Ben Howe and John Underwood.

Howe is joining as director of strategy and transformation, while John is Underwood to director of Ttchnology.

Howe’s role will involve delivering a portfolio of strategic transformation and change across the Society. He has been working with Cirencester Friendly for the past three years – as a programme management consultant from Leading Resolutions – for its recently launched digital platform.

Underwood (pictured) is responsible for the core IT infrastructure and telephony, cloud, solution architecture, application development and support, data and analytics, cyber security, business analysis and testing to ensure effective delivery of technology services in line with the Society’s strategic ambitions.

He was previously head of information technology at Cirencester Friendly and worked at St James’s Place, Capita and Legal & General.

The expansion of its senior leadership team is an important part of Cirencester’s digital transformation following its move in May onto iPipeline’s SSG Digital platform.

Shirley Fell, operations director at Cirencester Friendly, said: “Ben and John are a huge asset to the Society bringing great experience and delivery-focused results across the spectrum of technology and transformational change, so I am delighted to announce their appointment and promotion.

“We are on a journey with the successful delivery of our new protection platform recently, in partnership with iPipeline, and with many more projects underway we are looking forward to an exciting future that continues to enhance our service to advisers and our members.”