First woman director for Town

IPSWICH Town will announce this morning the appointment of a new director - the first woman to sit on the board in the club's history.

Holly Bellingham, 44, a mother-of-two, will join the Board of Directors with immediate effect.

Mrs Bellingham, who lives in Lavenham and has been a Town fan for many years, is chairman of Marketform, a leading Lloyds liability indemnity group.

“I am extremely proud and delighted to accept this appointment. I, along with my partner and our families, have been a fan of Ipswich Town for many years,” she said.

“I hope, that by using my business experience and skills, that I will be able to help assist the club by building on the work undertaken by the current board members as we all work to guide Ipswich Town back into football's top flight.”

Ipswich Town chairman, David Sheepshanks, said Mrs Bellingham had been recruited for her particular business skills and acumen and for what she could add to the board.

He added: “Holly Bellingham has supported the club for many years, both individually and via her company Marketform, who have been regular and generous sponsors of many matches and events at Portman Road.

“Mrs Bellingham and her partner, Simon Turner, have also invested considerable amounts through both last summer's loan note issue and in the recent share issue.”

Mrs Bellingham has been on the board of Marketform since 1989, during which time it has grown to become a leading agency and syndicate at Lloyds, underwriting medical malpractice, professional indemnity and general liability in 40 countries.

Prior to leading a management buyout to create Marketform, she worked within the non-U.S. medical malpractice and professional indemnity industry at Lloyds.

Acknowledged as an expert in her specialist field, Mrs Bellingham is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a member of both the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Worshipful Company of Insurers and a trustee of the youth charter for sport, culture and the arts.