The legal complexity of settling casualty claims has meant that the senior positions in the world of protection and indemnity are traditionally filled almost entirely by lawyers.

However, with increasing financial regulation and an emphasis on a healthy balance sheet in the insurance world, it is accountants who are eventually expected to rule the roost.

The UK P&I Club moved in that direction by appointing accountant And­rew Taylor from Thomas Miller to be chief executive last year, ­taking over from Hugo Wynn-­Williams.