Vitality Private health and life insurance firm Vitality has named Sarah Kirby as its chief people officer.

Kirby will begin her tenure on 1 March, succeeding Judy Parfitt, who retires at the end of June but will continue to guide Kirby during her onboarding and transition.

In her role, Kirby will spearhead the entire people and property function, which encompasses HR and talent management, employee engagement and communication, and the management of property and facilities.

A seasoned HR leader in the finance sector

Prior to joining Vitality, she was group HR COO at Zurich Insurance, where she led programmes around HR technology, risk & compliance, employee engagement and the broader HR operations across geographies, including Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Poland.

Kirby was also previously the global HR director for technology and operations at HSBC; the HR director for EMEA at RBS Markets and International Banking; and head of HR at Barclays Corporate Banking; among her other roles in the past two decades.

A culture of innovation, inclusivity and collaboration at Vitality

“We are excited to welcome Sarah to our team. Our people are the heart of Vitality, a company committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our members every day. Sarah brings extensive experience and a strategic vision that will support our business and teams, further strengthening our unique culture of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration,” said Vitality CEO Neville Koopowitz.

“Our current chief people officer, Judy Parfitt, will be retiring later this year. Judy’s dedication to Vitality and her impact on our people and culture are evident throughout the business. I would like to express my gratitude for her commitment and the significant contributions she has made to Vitality.”

Reflecting on her new career journey, Kirby said: “I am thrilled to be joining Vitality, a brand I admire, with a powerful purpose, a commitment to sustainability and a strong reputation for innovation in health and wellbeing. I look forward to joining such a talented team and driving a people strategy that supports growth and performance, alongside a thriving culture.”