Our Current Officers

The Company is governed by a Court of Assistants.

The Court is responsible for policy, strategy and overall management of the Company and appoints a Clerk (Victoria King ) to manage its day-to-day affairs.

Each year the Court elects from its ranks a Master, together with a Senior Warden and a Junior Warden.

The Master Karl Jarvis

Senior Warden Sara Fardon

Junior Warden Ajay Gupta

The officers were installed at a Court Meeting and confirmed at Common Hall on 9 October 2024.

Master – Karl Jarvis

About Karl Jarvis

Karl was born in Steamer Point, Aden, the son of a Royal Engineer. He spent time growing up in Germany and attending boarding school in the UK. His main education was at Cranbrook, Kent where he was a keen rugby player and cross-country runner. Awarded a scholarship to the USA, Michigan and was able to tour both coasts running track and completing a few marathons.

Karl worked in banking for a few years but moved to the Corporation of Lloyd’s in the early 1980s and then moved to the Merrett Group. From there moved to the start-up Members’ Agency, Oakwood which eventually became part of the Sedgwick Group. Moved to S A Meacock in 1996, as Company Secretary and Compliance Director. He has assumed several roles at Meacock over the past 26 years, including COO and CRO and became Manging Director in 2006 and CEO in 2010.

He has served on several Lloyd’s Market committees over the years, chairing the LMA Regulatory Committee in 2003-2004 and serving on the LMA Academy Committee for ten years.

Karl joined the WCI in 2012 and was elected to the Court in 2017. He has also been a member of City Livery Club since 2014 and serves on its Finance and Investment Committee.

He has lived in Wickham Bishops, Essex for over 30 years where he enjoys some hobby farming with Jacobs sheep and a small herd of beef cattle. Karl’s main sport these days is cycling with annual trips to Europe, competing in some Alpine events. Married for over 35 years with two children Sophie and Nicholas.

Senior Warden – Sara Fardon

About Sara Fardon

Sara enjoys a longstanding career in insurance, having worked for over three decades, both in the insurance company and broker world. She’s spent 24 years at WTW responsible for WTW Networks, which she ran for 12 years. Recently Sara has changed direction and taken responsibility for the WTW Midlands office, serving corporate clients.

Sara is a Fellow of both the Chartered insurance Institute and the Chartered Management Institute and a strong believer in professionalism. She has served on the board of the CII and the Networks MGA committee at BIBA.

Sara joined the WCI in 2015, became a freeman and Liveryman in 2016 and a court member in 2019. She has served on the Livery committee, as both member and chair, before becoming Junior Warden.

Sara enjoys volunteering. She is Chair of her village Parish Council & Secretary of the local youth club. Dhe enjoys dressmaking, swimming and cycling. Her favourite passion is her allotment - which through hard work delivers a wide range of fruit and vegetables and offers peace, quiet and tranquility.

Sara lives in Bedfordshire and been more than happily married to Adrian for over 30 years.

Junior Warden - Ajay Gupta

About Ajay Gupta

Ajay has over 35 years of experience in global insurance and reinsurance, currently
serving as Group Chief Operating Officer of Oneglobal Broking Ltd, a fast-growing
Lloyd’s broker. He has previously been a Board Director and Chief Underwriting
Officer at Charles Taylor managing agency, and has held leadership roles at Sun
Alliance, Employers Reinsurance Corporation, GE Insurance Solutions, Allianz, and
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Underwriting at Lloyd’s during his career.

Ajay is passionate about developing talent and advocating for professional training,
diversity and inclusion. He holds an MBA in International Marketing and Finance and
is a Trustee of the Lloyd’s Benevolent Fund. He is married with two daughters.