Global Marine Insurance Company NorthStandard Hires Head of ESG and Corporate Marketing: 4 Things to Know

NorthStandard has hired Fintel veteran Kate Kwiatkowska as head of ESG and corporate marketing, the global marine insurance provider announced.

Here are four things to know about NorthStandard's business, and Kwiatkowska's executive experience.

1. Business Scope and Scale: NorthStandard was formerly known as The North of England Protecting and Indemnity Association Limited. The company, founded in 1860, is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

NorthStandard, backed by roughly 600 employees, offers maritime insurance and has offices in such regions as Asia (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea); Australia and New Zealand; Europe (UK, Ireland and Greece); and the United States. The company's premium revenues exceed US$836 million.

2. Sustainability Strategy: NorthStandard's 2024/2025 Sustainability Report focuses on five areas:

• Comprehensive engagement
• Inclusivity and equity
• Risk management and resilience
• Transparency and accountability
• Leadership and advocacy

The company partnered with Furstenberg Maritime Advisory (FMA) to "create a sustainability strategy from the ground up rather than a one-size-fits-all solution." Still, we don't know if the company has substantially reduced its carbon footprint.

3. Executive Experience: Kwiatkowska previously was head of ESG and corporate marketing at Fintel. She was named ‘Woman of the Year – ESG’ award at ‘Professional Adviser Women in Financial Advice Awards’ in November 2024. She holds an MSc in Risk, Disaster and Environmental Management from the University of Huddersfield, and certifications including Leading Sustainable Corporations from the University of Oxford, according to NorthStandard.

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, NorthStandard Chief Strategy Officer Ed Davies said: “The Head of Sustainability plays a pivotal role at NorthStandard, coordinating, developing and driving the organisation’s strategy to ensure that we are operating responsibly and building an organisation that will support and protect our members not only today but for future generations."

Davies added: “Kate has an impressive track record in leading strategic projects and implementing a sustainability strategy for an AIM-listed business in the retail financial services sector. This, coupled with her stakeholder engagement and data analysis skills, makes her an ideal fit for the position. Her appointment reflects NorthStandard’s continuing commitment to embedding sustainability across the organisation.” 

In a LinkedIn update, Kwiatkowska wrote in March 2025: "I’m delighted to have joined NorthStandard as Head of Sustainability, developing and driving the Club’s sustainability programme. Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed learning more about the business and connecting with my new colleagues, and I’m excited to build on these insights to further embed sustainability within our overall strategy and drive lasting positive impact."

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The maritime industry, in particular, faces numerous sustainability challenges and associated regulations. For instance, the US Clean Shipping Act requires all vessels above 400 GT (gross tonnage) to be fully zero emission by 2040 in US waters.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.