Around the house

Los  Angeles-based image sharing company Snapchat has snapped up Hogan Lovells partner Christopher Handman as its first general counsel. The company recruited the highly regarded appellate partner to build an in-house legal team following a hacking incident which saw personal data of Snapchat users leaked.

The American Family Life Assutance Company (Aflac Incorporated) has  announced today the appointment of Audrey Boone Tillman as the company's General Counsel . She replaces Joey Loudermilk who is retiring but  will remain with Aflac until the end of the year as a senior advisor. Tillman joined Aflac in January 1996 as a member of the legal department. Before joining Aflac, Tillman served as an associate professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law. From 1990 to 1993, she was an associate with law firm Smith, Helms, Mulliss and Moore in Greensboro, NC. She also served as a federal judicial law clerk to Judge Richard C. Erwin, U.S. District Court for North Carolina.

Thread and zips manufacturer Coats has employed Lloyds Banking Group’s general counsel of retail and wealth to be its first general counsel. He joined the company in 2007 from Morgan Stanley where he was deputy head of European and Asian litigation and director of compliance.

Amsterdam based global design and engineering consultancy company Arcadis has appointed Jody Debs to be its chief legal officer for its North American region. Ms Debs will work with the North North American management team and the Arcadis general counsel at the firm's Amsterdam global headquarters to implement and drive global initiatives and be the leading force in oversight of US  legal matters. She joins from CH2M Hill where she was interim chief legal officer, North America commercial contracts and global procurement director. Prior to this, she was senior counsel for Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation and was an associate with Mayer Brown Platt (now Mayer Browne Rowe & Maw).

Former ABN Amro general counsel Laurie Adams has become chairman of the Principality Building Society. Mr Adams, who also worked inhouse at Citi, joined the company in 2013 as a non-executive director before his appointment as chair of the board.

Keith Ford takes up the role of new legal head of Nationwide. As HSBC European general counsel Mr Ford has worked in retail, weath management and commercial divisions. He also headed up HSBC’s UK retail banking arm. His new job will see him join the compliance team in July which also incorporates the legal department.