Simon Beale, underwriter of the KJ Coles syndicate at Lloyd's, has been elected chairman of the Joint Hull Committee (JHC). The JHC is a joint initiative by the International Underwriting Association of London and Lloyd's Underwriters' Association. Its role is to support and develop the role of the London hull insurance market. The JHC acts as a focal point for hull insurance issues while providing advice and representation to members on technical, legal, promotional and educational issues. Simon Beale says he intends to build on the work that the JHC has been undertaking over the past twelve months by establishing a series of subcommittees to address technical issues and wordings, statistics and information, education and market information, liaison, and finance.